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This is basically a modern “Turtle Robot” similar to Logo, I guess. I wonder how much, if at all, seeing the robot move in real life is beneficial vs simple on

• laurieg 6y ago
  This reminds me of the Roamer Robot [1] which was in my primary school in 1995. http://www.valiant-technology.com/uk/pages/roamer_home.php http://www.valiant-technology.com/uk/pages/roamer_home.php
• bonestamp2 6y ago
  I can tell you. I first used Logo Writer when I was in 2nd grade (in the 80s) and I thought it was cool. But, the "usefulness" of computers never hit me until the following year when a teacher brought in the Turtle robot and I made my logo writer "program" write to actual paper. Everything fell into place from there. I went to the library and got books to learn BASIC. I went to computer "camps" in the summer at the local university. Etc. I've been a professional programmer now for 15 years. Taking programs from the screen to hardware is what got me really excited.
• askvictor 6y ago
  As a computing teacher, for many kids, the difference is huge. Doesn't have to be a robot - the bbc micro:bit is similarly useful in taking computing into the real world. Kids are definitely more motivated by the tangible. Though recently I've been exploring Minecraft Education Edition, and am wondering if that has similar benefits, even though it's not in the real world; is Minecraft 'real' enough?