BEDFORD, Mass., April 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corp.
(NASDAQ: IRBT), the leader in consumer robots, today unveiled new
coding resources through iRobot Education that promote more
inclusive, equitable access to STEM education and support
social-emotional development. iRobot also updated its iRobot
Coding App with the introduction of Python coding support and
a new 3D Root coding robot simulator environment that is ideal for
hybrid and remote learning landscapes.
The updates coincide with the annual National Robotics
Week, a time when kids, parents and teachers across the nation tap
into the excitement of robotics for STEM learning.
Supporting Social and Emotional Learning
The events of
the past year changed the traditional learning environment with
students, families and educators adapting to hybrid and remote
classrooms. Conversations on the critical importance of diversity,
equity and inclusion have also taken on increased importance in the
classroom. To address this, iRobot Education has introduced social
and emotional learning (SEL) lessons to its Learning Library that
tie SEL competencies, like peer interaction and responsible
decision-making, into coding and STEM curriculum. These SEL
learning lessons, such as The Kind Playground, Seeing the Whole
Picture and Navigating Conversations, provide educators with new
resources that help students build emotional intelligence and
become responsible global citizens, through a STEM lens.
Language translations for iRobot Coding App
More
students can now enjoy the free iRobot Coding App with the
introduction of Spanish, French, German, Czech and Japanese
language support. iRobot's mobile and web coding app offers
three progressively challenging levels of coding language that
advances users from graphical coding to hybrid coding, followed by
full-text coding. Globally, users can now translate graphical and
hybrid block coding levels into their preferred language, helping
beginners and experts alike hone their language and computational
thinking skills.
Introducing Python coding language support
One of the
most popular coding languages, Python is now available to iRobot
Coding App users in level 3, full-text coding. This new
functionality provides an avenue to gain more complex coding
experience in a coding language that is currently used in both
academic and professional capacities worldwide, preparing the next
generation of students for STEM curriculums and careers.
New Root Coding Robot 3D Simulator
Ready to code in
3D? The iRobot Coding App is uniquely designed to help kids learn
coding at home and in school, with a virtual Root coding robot
available for free within the app. iRobot updated the virtual Root
SimBot with a fun and interactive 3D experience, allowing
students to control their programmable Root® coding robot right on
the screen.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a
tangible impact on students who've been learning in remote
environments, which is why we identified solutions to nurture and
grow SEL skills in students," said Colin
Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. "The expansion of these
new iRobot Education resources, which are free to anyone, will
hopefully facilitate greater inclusivity and accessibility for
those who want to grow their coding experience and pursue STEM
careers."
In celebration of National Robotics Week, iRobot
Education will also release weekly coding challenges focused
on learning how to use code to communicate. Each challenge can be
completed online in the iRobot Coding App with the Root SimBot
or in-person with a Root coding robot. The weekly challenges build
upon each other and include guided questions to facilitate
discussions about the coding process, invite reflections, and
celebrate new learning.
For more information on iRobot Education, Root coding robots and
the iRobot Coding App, visit: https://edu.irobot.com/.
Information about National Robotics Week can be found at
www.nationalroboticsweek.org.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot®, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and
builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and
outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning
category with the introduction of its Roomba® Robot Vacuum in 2002.
Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 30
million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line, including the
Roomba and the Braava® family of mopping robots, feature
proprietary technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping
and navigation. iRobot engineers are building an ecosystem of
robots and technologies to enable the smart home. For more
information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-education-expands-its-free-coding-platform-with-social-emotional-learning-multi-language-support-301261748.html
SOURCE iRobot Corporation