Code and Go Robot - April Benton

In Chapter 12, Code and Go Robot Mouse was one of the coding tools that was mentioned in the text. I have used Spheros and Dot and Dash with students, but I have never seen the Code and Go Robot Mouse in action. I decided to dig deeper and learn more about this coding gadget. As seen in the video, Code and Go Robot Mouse is an excellent way to introduce coding to the younger students.  

Students are able to build a maze with a piece of cheese at the end. Then they will code the mouse to travel through the maze. It includes activity cards that allow the users to create grids based on the cards in which the mouse moves. First, the students are able to use the coding cards to plan their code, and then they can code the mouse with the buttons located on top of the mouse.

Pros:

• Introduction to coding which will lead students to code more complex things.
• It doesn’t require another form of technology to program the robot, which makes it more affordable for the classroom.
• It can be used with or without the maze that is included, which allows you to integrate other subject areas.

Cons: 

• It is fundamental coding and can only be used as an introduction in primary grades.
• It doesn’t allow users to code sound effects like many other robots.



• You can code to perform an action, but the action is random, and the user has no control over what action the robot performs.

Classroom Uses:

Code and Go Robot Mouse could be used within the math curriculum. Since the coding is simple, I would use this device within a Kindergarten or Frist Grade classroom before graduating the students to a more complex coding device. Students could code the robot to answer math problems. In a Kindergarten classroom, you could have a mat with the numbers 1-10 on it. The students would then solve simple addition problems that would equal 1-10. After the student determines the answer, they would program the Code and Go Robot Mouse to travel to the correct answer. This would be a great center activity to provide the students with extra practice.  

In the Science classroom, coding is an excellent Stem Activity. In the past, I introduced coding by having the students complete a handout on directions. I feel that the Code and Go Robot Mouse is simple enough to be a basic introduction of coding in the science classroom.