LEGO WeDo 2.0

The LEGO WeDo 2.0 kits are perfect for increasing student access to robotics while saving money. Since this was the first year of robotics being incorporated into our STEM/STEAM/Maker course, we wanted a solid introduction that didn’t kill the budget yet would allow the robots to be completely built and taken apart at the end of each class to allow for sharing of the kits.

Instructions vs Free Exploration: Initially, I decided to provide the students with a set of instructions of what to build. With the first class I taught, I found that I had downloaded and provided the wrong instructions: ones for the previous slightly different 1.0 kit. So, I let the students explore the possibilities of the kits. This led only to learning that the motor spins anything attached to it - not very productive. After observing the lack luster results of free exploration, I provided LEGO-created instructions for building Milo to the next class. Milo was an excellent starting point allowing students to get a better idea of how the bricks and motors work together. For the remainder of the unit, students were provided options that included both exact instructions and open-ended building challenges.

Kit Organization: After pieces started to go missing, I began inventorying the kits myself. I found LEGO’s suggested organization map to be difficult for the students to follow, and many pieces were accidentally placed in an incorrect section. To cut down on organization and inventorying time, I reorganized the kit to be sorted by color. Now, students can easily and quickly sort the kit by color at the end of class.