Sphero Blueprint is transforming STEM education by making engineering concepts more approachable, engaging, and hands-on for students. Educators using Blueprint have seen increased student participation, improved understanding of mechanical principles, and a more dynamic classroom environment. From simplifying lesson planning to fostering creativity and problem-solving skills, Blueprint kits empower both teachers and students to explore STEM, specifically mechanical and electrical engineering, with confidence.
Here’s what Dave Wolfe, a Computer Science educator at Cornerstone Academy in New Albany, Ohio, had to say about his experience using Blueprint in the classroom.
How has Blueprint helped you achieve your teaching goals?
Blueprint kits have been an excellent product in re-introducing my middle and high school students to the principles of simple machines. With hands-on activity, the kits enable students to assemble various simple machines rapidly and observe the physical effects of mechanical advantage. The immediate experience enables student-led discussion of the mechanics, with students exploring how and why these machines function. This product also fosters a comparison between their created models and real-world examples.
The simplicity of assembly of the kits makes them easily accessible to all students. Students have been able to follow the instructions and feel empowered to modify and alter the designs, test new ideas, and attempt their own concepts. This simplicity of assembly builds confidence and encourages an active, interactive learning process where students are confident to disassemble and reassemble the parts to further their learning. Ultimately, these kits have made it easier to teach fundamental mechanical concepts, leading to greater student interest and a more meaningful, working knowledge of simple machines.
What specific features of Blueprint do you find most valuable?
I find the best part of the Blueprint kits is their design simplicity. The components are specifically kept simple, allowing students to grasp the underlying concepts easily and feel confident creating their ideas as real models. This ease of visualization and construction significantly reduces the engagement barrier, providing a sense of comfort and encouraging experimentation. Students have the knowledge that design changes can be made quickly, frequently in a matter of minutes, allowing them to try out ideas and investigate variations with little hesitation.
This rapid prototyping capability is crucial to building active learning and discovery by inquiry. It allows students to engage in iterative design cycles, where they can readily improve their work based on observed results. I have observed a noticeable increase in students' participation as they become actively engaged in the learning process. These kits foster an interactive, interesting learning environment since students can think critically and creatively.
Would you recommend Blueprint to other educators?
Yes, I would recommend Blueprint kits to other educators. They offer a great method for providing students with a hands-on, project-based learning experience and for turning abstract STEM concepts into concrete, real-world, three-dimensional objects. The ability to rapidly construct and observe concepts like mechanical advantage encourages a deeper, more intuitive level of understanding than just a lecture does.
The flexibility of Blueprint kits provides teachers with the ability to differentiate instruction with ease. This makes it simple to scale and adapt so that all students can achieve success while being appropriately challenged. It is simple for teachers to make an activity more challenging for accelerated learners, pushing them to further develop more advanced designs and investigate theoretical ideas. Meanwhile, students who need more support can work at their own pace, aided by the kits' clear format and visual feedback. This flexibility ensures that all students, regardless of learning style or pace, are able to participate actively and succeed.
Blueprint kits provide teachers with a versatile and useful instrument for building an active, engaging, and diverse STEM learning environment regardless of learning style or level.
What specific teaching challenges did Blueprint help you overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in teaching was the gap between students' understanding of basic simple machine principles when they entered high school. While they could often recall the terms, their understanding of specific machines and formulas associated with them was sometimes non-existent. This was a significant stumbling block, as these ideas are the foundation of our robotics and engineering program. Blueprint kits addressed this challenge directly by providing experiential, hands-on learning environments that successfully updated and reinforced these basic principles.
The Blueprint kits have also been instrumental in fostering an experimentation and inquiry culture early in my classroom. Students feel empowered to investigate their ideas freely, test hypotheses, and develop their designs without fear of failure. This new experimentation culture is the cornerstone of STEM education, which builds problem-solving skills and a growth mindset. By removing the barriers to experimentation, Blueprint kits enhance students' technical skills and impart valuable life lessons.
How has Blueprint impacted student engagement and participation in your classroom?
Blueprint kits have transformed student engagement and participation in my classroom by making it possible to learn abstract concepts with immediate and tangible experiences. From the moment they were first introduced, the kits have facilitated a dynamic, interactive environment. I've discovered that students, regardless of experience, gravitate to the materials, creating unstructured discussions and group problem-solving sessions.
For example, during the topic of mechanical advantage, I've seen reluctant students typically shy away from class participation and become entirely absorbed in designing and experimenting with different levers and pulley systems. They're not sitting there passively absorbing information but constructing knowledge themselves. I've also seen students initially stumped by abstract concepts become more confident as they handle the pieces in front of them and see the real-world effect of their designs.
Apart from that, the kits have managed to provide a platform that levels the playing field for students of various levels of competence. The simplicity of the pieces makes even the beginner with limited prior experience proficient in grasping the fundamentals and undertaking design challenges within a few minutes. This has had the consequence of creating enormous peer-to-peer learning and mentoring spillovers since students interact in order to debug and share information.
Blueprint kits have revolutionized the classroom from a standard lecture format to an engaging, hands-on learning experience. Students are no longer passive information receivers; they are now participants engaged in planning, problem-solving, and exchanging their thoughts. This has resulted in a tremendous increase in participation and engagement, establishing a more dynamic and collaborative learning space.
How has Blueprint helped you streamline your lesson planning and preparation?
Blueprint's comprehensive, pre-designed, simple machine lesson plans have truly streamlined my lesson planning and prep. The readily available, varied lessons provide a versatile framework that allows me to assemble a unified unit efficiently, with plenty of opportunity for review and hands-on experimentation with my students. Such flexibility is particularly valuable, as it allows me to modify the pace and level of instruction based on students' individual needs. I can easily navigate through familiar concepts while devoting more time to challenging or new ones for a more personalized learning experience.
In addition, the accompanying worksheets, instructional tools, and supplemental materials are unbelievably well-organized and simple to navigate. Their availability and concise explanations cut down on preparation time, allowing me to focus on educating students rather than attempting to decode complicated materials. The completeness of these materials has made what was potentially a dry topic into an energetic and productive teaching experience. In brief, Blueprint's materials have saved me a tremendous amount of time and enhanced the quality of my teaching in general.
How easy was it to integrate Blueprint into your existing curriculum and teaching methods?
Implementing Blueprint kits into my existing curriculum and teaching methods was relatively easy. The kits' modular design and well-sequenced, varied lessons made integration simple. The materials' pacing was nicely balanced with the goals of my curriculum, and therefore, it was simple to transition in and out of activity periods. This adaptability enabled me to incorporate the kits into current units with little alteration, essentially enhancing the learning process without disrupting the overall flow of the course.
What specific features of Blueprint do your students find most beneficial?
My students always point to the simplicity of Blueprint kits as their biggest strength. The pieces' minimalist design allows them to easily translate abstract ideas into tangible models, giving them confidence and facilitating experimentation. They appreciate the liberty to modify designs and test new ideas. This rapid prototyping aspect drastically reduces their anxiety, making it possible for students to join the learning process without fear of failure. The pieces are simple enough that students can visualize an idea easily and feel comfortable trying it out. Students quickly begin to plan, solve problems, and communicate with each other.
Have you noticed any improvement in student understanding or performance since using Blueprint?
I've witnessed dramatic improvement in student performance and knowledge since introducing Blueprint kits to my classroom. Specifically, students demonstrate a far deeper understanding of fundamental STEM principles, particularly simple machines and mechanical advantages. Many students struggled to recall and apply these concepts in the past, primarily through rote memorization. However, the hands-on learning provided by the kits has transformed their understanding. Students are now not only able to memorize the principles but also apply them in practical, real-world contexts, as seen through their ability to design, build, and analyze their own simple machine models and robots. This shift is especially seen in their ability to engage in intelligent debate and troubleshoot using such principles, demonstrating a clear grasp of the principles involved.
How would you rate the user-friendliness of the Blueprint platform?
Based on my experience, the usability of the Blueprint platform is very high. The ease of use of the component parts and materials presented contributes greatly to ease of use. The students enjoy the clean design, which allows them to easily see and build their designs, experiment, and iterate over their creations. The provided worksheets, teaching aids, and materials are easy to comprehend and neatly structured, saving preparation time and encouraging efficient instruction. Therefore, considering the ease of assembly, the ease of comprehending the instructional materials, and the seamless integration, I would give the user-friendliness of the Blueprint platform an excellent rating.
What, if any, suggestions do you have for improving Blueprint?
While Blueprint has been an extremely valuable resource, some possible additions would make it even more useful. Expanding online resources with a unit wrap-up project or challenge. Something that brings everything and everyone together for a common goal or idea. Even the idea of creating something could be done by connecting several kits into a larger concept or project. I think the Blueprint kits have great potential in connecting students to concepts and each other.
Would you recommend Blueprint to other educators in your subject area or grade level?
I would recommend Blueprint kits to other middle and high school STEM science teachers. The kits bring a priceless touch of hands-on, project-based learning that realigns elusive concepts like simple machines and mechanical advantages to real-life lessons. The ease of materials makes the students confident and proficient in executing the concepts easily and then testing with authority, creating a culture of inquiry and critical thinking. The Blueprint kit's flexibility also allows the instructors to differentiate instruction easily so that a student can learn but be challenged at his or her own level. The easily available materials and highly structured lesson plans significantly minimize lesson planning time and preparation so that the instructor can focus on teaching students rather than planning.
Dave Wolfe has been teaching at Cornerstone Academy since 2012, specializing in technology and STEM education. He has taught a wide range of subjects, including keyboarding, computer science, robotics, 3D printing and design, programming, web development, video game design, and cybersecurity for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
