SPIKE Prime: A fun new way for schools to teach STEAM, with LEGO! - episode 181
- Author
- Rebecca Levey, Andrea Smith, Amy Oztan
- Published
- Fri 05 Apr 2019
- Episode Link
- https://parenting-bytes.simplecast.com/episodes/7d4c251d-7d4c251d
Episode 181: SPIKE Prime – A fun new way for schools to teach STEAM, with LEGO!
The three Parenting Bytes hosts took a field trip this week to the unveiling of a new STEAM project-based learning tool from LEGO Education, called SPIKE Prime. LEGO Education recognizes that STEAM activities for middle schoolers are fraught with issues, such as most robotics clubs being opt-in type activities that happen after school, and not enough teacher training available to make classroom STEAM lessons with robotics viable in many schools. To help combat these issues, SPIKE Prime was designed from the ground up to work within classrooms, giving teachers everything they need to lead a comprehensive lesson that be taught within a 45-minute period.
After the launch announcement, we had a great discussion with Marianne Bach, who was one of the key people on this product’s development and spoke to us passionately about the importance of the “A” in STEAM (art), how SPIKE Prime was designed specifically for the classroom, and how you can help get it into your child’s school.
We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did, and thanks so much to LEGO Education for inviting us to the launch!
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This Week's Links
Intro (00:00:11)
Andrea Smith, technology guru extraordinaire
Interview with Marianne Bach from LEGO Education (00:10:40)
Bytes of the Week (00:22:27)
Hip hop best bet for a cheese that will please: Swiss study, by Denis Balibouse and Cecile Mantovani – Reuters
Elkhart Schools teams up with program to package unused food into take-home meals, by Ed Ernstes – WSBT
In No Happy Endings, Nora McInerny Is in Love With Both of Her Husbands, by Michelle Ruiz – Vogue
No Happy Endings: A Memoir, by Nora McInerny
Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast
Stop Asking Kids What They Want to Be When They Grow Up, by Adam Grant – NY Times
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