Disney-Backed littleBits Unveils Coding Kit

Image Credit: littleBits.

New York-based hardware startup littleBits, known for its electronic building blocks and for being  part of the Disney Accelerator program, has unveiled a new kit that teaches students how to code. The upcoming littleBits Code Kit is designed to teach students in grades 3 to 8 the foundations of coding and engineering through hands-on activities and gaming.

Included in the kit are:

  • 16 “Bits,” or modular circuits, including the new codeBit and an LED Matrix;
  • Four game-based interventions: Tug-of-War, Ultimate Shootout, Hot Potato and Rockstar Guitar;
  • More than 100 activities and 10 lessons tied to Next Generation Science Standards and computer science standards;
  • Quick start guides for both students and teachers, including a Bit index and a classroom poster;
  • An interactive online teacher’s guide that allows teachers to import lessons directly into Google Docs;
  • A rechargeable battery and 30 accessories; and
  • An accompanying app* for PC, Mac and Chromebook devices that provides step-by-step instructions for easy block-based programming.

Bits snap together with magnets and are usable with other kits offered by the company. The Code Kit app’s block-programming interface is based on Google’s Blockly, a drag-and-drop visual code editor.

The startup is part of the Disney Accelerator 2016 cohort and has raised $60 million in funding, TechCrunch reported.

The littleBits Code Kit will be released in June. The company is currently accepting advanced purchase orders for the kit, which costs $299.95. It will be sold on littleBit’s website and Amazon.

To learn more about how the electronic building blocks work, watch the video below. Further information is available on the littleBits site.


*Update 3/8/2017: An earlier version of this article stated the app works on mobile devices. However, it is only compatible for PC, Mac and Chromebook devices. 

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

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