Spring 2022 Educators Workshops Posted: Apply Now!
These free, hands-on workshops equip educators to teach new subjects or build skills with new hardware.
Choose from these options:
- Pre-Engineering: “What’s a Microcontroller? with Python & micro:bit (February and April)
- Robotics: Shield-Bot with Arduino
- Robotics & Cybersecurity: cyber:bot with Python and micro:bit
Each workshop consists of three 1.5 hour interactive Zoom sessions held on a M-W-F schedule, with very brief homework in between. Free hardware kits are provided in advance. Open to educators teaching middle school through college in the U.S.
Space is limited so apply now!
Professional Development with Parallax Partners
- CYBER.ORG Workshops (cyber:bot only)
- Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy (on site) (Shield-Bot for Arduino)
- Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy (online) (Shield-Bot for Arduino)
Professional Development for Educators
Enrollment is open for Spring 2022 Educator Workshops!
These free, hands-on workshops equip educators to teach new subjects or expand their skills with new hardware.
Each course includes three 1.5 hour Zoom sessions held on a M-W-F schedule with brief assignments in between, using free hardware kits sent in advance.
Choose from three options:
- Electronics:What’s a Microcontroller? with Python and micro:bit
- Robotics: Shield-Bot with Arduino
- Robotics & Cybersecurity: Cyber:bot with Python and micro:bit
In-person Professional Development is held at school district offices and college campuses around the country and will resume when the covid-19 pandemic is over.
Typically a full-day in length including the robot assembly.
Distance learning Professional Development are held on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays in 1.5-hour sessions. We send robotic kits to educators in advance of these workshops.
See past Zoom events from our YouTube Playlist Distance Learning.
Parallax offers entirely free Professional Development courses to bring robotics, electronics, coding, and physical computing to your classroom or distance learning program for middle school through college level instructors. Common to all of our workshops, conducted via Zoom or in-person, we cover:
- Starting-from-scratch software and hardware setup, no experience required
- An introduction to circuit-building on a breadboard using real-world electronic components
- Beginner-level physical computing and best coding practices
- Step-by-step subsystem testing and troubleshooting to build engineering skills
We offer three tracks: cyber:bot, ActivityBot 360 and Shield-Bot with Arduino. Further, these courses are offered by Parallax or our partners Cyber.org and Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy.
Robotics with Python: cyber:bot & micro:bit
The cyber:bot robot uses the very popular micro:bit controller in a robot. The two main benefits of the cyber:bot are the very popular Python programming language with a browser-based simple coding environment and all the well-known Parallax robotic circuit-building activities.
In this workshop you will build, program, customize, and take home a Parallax cyber:bot. You will learn the best classroom implementation strategies with accompanying curriculum, including standards alignment and assessments around the cyber:bot Tutorial Series.
The prerequisites for this workshop include basic computer skills like installing software, typing code and navigating to web pages.
Learning Objectives
- Learn common Python programming concepts and techniques
- Learn how to support your students from robot building through troubleshooting
- Experience a variety of STEM topics with cyber:bot projects
- Build your knowledge to empower your students to participate in contests and engage in projects that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and in-depth understanding
Course Activities
- Use the on-line Python code editor to compile, flash and run code on the cyber:bot
- Build, calibrate, and verify hardware/software communications
- Write Python code following formatting and syntax rules
- Program the cyber:bot to perform maneuvers
- Connect sensor circuits and program the cyber:bot respond to its environment
- Learn basic electronic troubleshooting (circuits, code, power supply, etc)
Robotics with BlocklyProp: ActivityBot 360°
The BlocklyProp programming language and the ActivityBot 360° robot are Parallax’s most powerful combination.
A familiar Blockly programming environment and a highly capable microcontroller brain make this robot both a contest winner and a versatile tool for a variety of student-built projects.
You will build, program, customize, and take home a Parallax ActivityBot 360 in this workshop. You will learn the best classroom implementation strategies with accompanying curriculum, including standards alignment and assessments using the ActivityBot with BlocklyProp Tutorial Series.
The prerequisites for this workshop include basic computer skills like installing software, typing code and navigating to web pages.
Learning Objectives
- Learn common programming concepts and techniques, made simple with BlocklyProp
- Learn how to support your students from robot building through troubleshooting and on to project completion.
- Experience a variety of STEM topics with ActivityBot 360 lessons and projects.
- Build your knowledge to empower your students to participate in contests and engage in projects that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and in-depth understanding
Course Activities
- Install and setup BlocklyProp software programming environment
- Build, calibrate, and verify hardware/software communications
- Learn the basics of Blockly programming on the ActivityBot 360
- Program the ActivityBot to perform maneuvers
- Connect sensor circuits and program the robot to respond to its environment
- Learn basic electronic troubleshooting (circuits, code, power supply, etc)