Maker of Dash & Dot Robots Releases Coding Lessons

Dash and Dot 

An education technology company that produces a pair of robots for use by kids has just released lessons to help young students learn how to code. The in-house education team of Wonder Workshop, which makes the Dash and Dot robots, created the curriculum. The team also partnered with Kodable to develop a few of the lessons.

Lessons introduce students to robotics as well as programming concepts. The coding is done with Blockly, using preset programs. Blockly was created by Google as an open source visual programming language; Wonder Workshop has released app versions of the program that control its robots through mobile devices.

The curriculum covers six levels, for grades K through 5. In the level intended for the earliest learners, students get an introduction to robotics and learn about sequences, algorithms, loops and design thinking. By grade 5, they learn about variables. Students work through "challenge cards" that give them tasks to practice. Currently, there are a total of 24 lesson plans and 72 challenges.

Dash and Dot Challenge Cards 

Many of the materials are available free on the company's website (some with registration), or teachers can purchase a "getting started curriculum pack" for $99.

Some educators have found value in the use of Wonder Workshop products for promoting non-technical skills as well. Tiffany Hogg, a first-grade teacher in Fredericksburg, PA, said the use of the robots and coding apps have helped her students "develop the fundamental skills of collaboration, problem solving and persistence through engaging, hands-on activities that enhance lessons in all subjects."

According to the company, the curriculum meets Common Core and Computer Science Teachers Association computer science standards and is aligned with ISTE Standards for Students and Code.org's Computer Science Fundamentals series.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • sunlit classroom with laptops on every desk, each displaying a glowing AI speech bubble icon above the screen

    Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Become Available for Teen Students

    This summer, Microsoft is expanding availability of its Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot products for students aged 13 and older. Administrators will be able to grant access for students based on their institution's plans and preferences, the company announced in a blog post.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • teenager’s study desk with a laptop displaying an AI symbol, surrounded by books, headphones, a notebook, and a cup of colorful pencils

    Student AI Use on the Rise, Survey Finds

    Ninety-three percent of students across the United States have used AI at least once or twice for school-related purposes, according to the latest AI in Education report from Microsoft.