News

Educators, What Should We Build Next?

Good morning Parallax Community, We're doing some planning at Parallax, and I'd like to involve you in the process! For nearly 30 years, we've been developing educational hardware, robotics, and free curriculum. Much of our best work has come from listening to educators who use our products. As we consider where to focus our efforts next, we'd like to hear what you need than simply decide on our own. What could Parallax create that would help you teach, challenge your students, or prepare them for a technology-driven future? Maybe it's a new curriculum, a project idea, a product we don't carry, or something that would make your classroom experience easier and more productive. A few ideas have been on my mind, only to get the discussion started: Applying the micro:bit to more real-world projects. With AI making programming easier than ever, students have more time to design and build projects. We'd expand our hands-on application examples at learn.parallax.com with breadboard-based and prototype projects using RF communication, sensors, motors, displays, environmental measurements, and other electronic components. Building (and modifying) circuits from a schematic, fabrication (3D printing, laser cutters, etc), and the engineering design process fit into these efforts.    More advanced cyber:bot robotics projects. We've already got a solid foundation of robotics curriculum for the cyber:bot, but there's plenty more we could do. Imagine using the HuskyLens AI camera for object and pattern recognition, navigating environments by colored objects, picking them up with the Gripper 3.0, or combining multiple sensors to move through busy environments, or even having the robots work together to solve a problem. These kinds of projects are useful for training in advanced manufacturing, automation, and robotics. AI curriculum aligned with emerging standards. Our partner CYBER.ORG recently expanded the cybersecurity standards to include AI. Our curriculum already meets the cybersecurity standards, This effort would show the effective use of AI for coding the micro:bit and apply it for problem solving. Our students are being raised with AI, and those who leverage it well will reach many goals, faster.  micro:bit SHOP Expansion. We're a leading channel partner for the micro:bit Educational Foundation in the United States. To further this idea - which is mostly inventory and marketing from our perspective - we'd expand our micro:bit product line beyond what we manufacture. This could include popular accessories like badges, classroom kits, the 10th Anniversary micro:bit, mystery boxes, cables, power supplies and wearables. We'd have a lot more micro:bit products in stock.  Where should we spend our time to support what you need? Leave a comment below. We can't promise to do everything, but your input will help us decide what comes next. If you prefer private communication, e-mail me at kgracey@parallax.com.  Thanks for helping us make Parallax more useful in your classroom! Sincerely, Ken Gracey, CEO