Lego posted directions for four models ( a house, a car, a ferris wheel and a crane) on-line. Priced at $49.95 and available only from Lego Education, the set is composed of standard bricks and Technic pieces. Lego introduced an add-on set, the WeDo Resource Set (9585), in 2011. The 10.2 version of Adobe Flash player can be found at. My kids, incidentally, went through the activity pack in about five lengthy sittings, so this is not as onerous as it sounds. I merely kept copies of all install packages in a folder on my desktop and did a quick, two minute changeover when the kids were going to use the Activity Pack. As it is completely unacceptable to use an old version of Adobe Flash (from a security standpoint), I took to uninstalling the current version and temporarily installing an old verison (prior to 10.3). The Activity Pack is not necessary to run the WeDo software, but it is the best way for the kids to build the models. More bothersome is that the WeDo Activity Pack does not work with the latest versions of Adobe Flash Player. Once installed, you may reboot in 64 bit. Mac users who have OS X Lion will need to boot their machines in 32 bit mode (hold down the 3 and 2 keys when you reboot) in order to install the software. One problem that has cropped up since Jenny Williams' earlier review is that the WeDo software is encountering compatibility issues. It is a fantastic capability, one that is sorely missed with a solitary set at home. To this end, the WeDo software communicates automatically across a LAN with other computers running WeDo, and kids can link programs. Thus, two of the basic set's builds are a soccer kicker and a goalie you can build them separately, but it works best if students have access to two WeDo sets and can coordinate the action simultaneously. On the other hand, Lego more or less assumes that there will be a room full of WeDo sets. On the one hand, this means that Lego provides excellent teacher materials, guides that are helpful for a parent that is lightly moderating the WeDo experience. One of the drawbacks of using a WeDo at home is that Lego has designed it for an institutional setting. The models invite kids to play, regardless of whether they are naturally drawn to mechanics or programming. Consider how a six-year-old might approach a generic sensor-activated motor versus a sensor-activated jaw on an alligator. Another facet is the way that Lego has created storylines for the various models, integrating Technic mechanisms with standard bricks to build narratives around the various machines. Part of what makes this developmentally appropriate is the software and simplified mechanics. There is a level of ownership that kids can attain with WeDo that is, for most little kids, a few years off with Mindstorms. I could walk my six-year-old through the Mindstorms software, or I can watch my six and three-year-old sitting side-by-side, manipulating the WeDo software on their own and building the models together. So why WeDo? The simple answer is that it is developmentally appropriate for younger children. The WeDo and Mindstorms software use the same National Instruments LabVIEW engine. Mindstorms includes three step motors, four sensors, and hundreds of Technic pieces. What truly makes WeDo an iffy purchase is that Mindstorms weighs in at $280. Your child is arguably one step closer to eventually having his or her own fixed address. If you do find yourself in that position, then consider yourself blessed. You can save a bit of money by making use of MIT’s Scratch software (profiled in Part 2) but you may also find yourself purchasing more Technic gears, axles and beams as your child seeks to move beyond the core WeDo models. Purchasing both the WeDo Set and Software will set you back over $200 with shipping and tax, enough to make most parents scratch their heads and wonder whether it is worth it. You build a contraption and then write a program to run it. A USB interface connects the sensors and motors to your own computer. Introduced in 2008, WeDo combines a simple drag-and-drop programming environment with Lego’s Power Function motors, lights, and two types of sensors (motion/distance and tilt). You can think of Lego WeDo as a junior Mindstorms. In part 2, I look at what has been happening in the WeDo user community, and use MIT’s Scratch software to control WeDo. In part 1, I review the pros and cons of buying WeDo and look at Lego’s recent addition to system, the WeDo Resource Set. After spending a lot of time with the product, I thought it time to visit WeDo again. I’ve been itching to get one ever since, and I finally pulled the trigger when my oldest child appeared ready for it. Two years ago, GeekDad’s Jenny Williams reviewed Lego’s WeDo Robotics Construction Set for children (the review is still an excellent introduction). This following text was taken from a post by Robert Ferguson on the GeekDad community blog.
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