TECHNOLOGY TIPS – GOOGLE’S LATES VENTURE: PROJECT BLOKS

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Google announced Project Bloks today as a research project. According to the site, “Our aim is to create an open hardware platform to help developers, designers, and researchers build the next generation of tangible programming experiences for kids.”

Project Bloks uses a modular system that can be pieced together like a game. Kids would develop computational thinking by physically coding (or putting together) the electronic boards and pucks, which send the instructions when connected.

The modules consist of pucks, base boards, and a brain board. Pucks provide the instructions, i.e., jump, move right, turn on/off). Base Boards hold the pucks which send instructions through a sensor. The Brain Board gives power and connectivity and is where you would connect your multiple Base Boards to send your instructions. These instructions can then be sent via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to any of your connected devices. One sample shown on the site is the Music Maker which helps you to “compose a track using computational thinking by inputting different instruments, layering and looping sounds, and then playing it through a wireless speaker.”

Google is currently looking for participants in this research phase of the project later this year. And if you’re interested you can sign up for Project Bloks updates. They have also published their position paper which further explains the project.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO