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
7 Comments
I have fleets of CyberBots, BOE-Bots, ActivityBots and SumoWX bots in my classrooms.
If possible, I would like to see updated Apps for BOE and Activity/SumoWX bots that work on Apple Silicon (our tech department recently purchased Mac Airs for student to use in class). I know that the Activity/SumoWX were discontinued, but I have enough for students to work on for a few years while I modify curriculum to adapt for Arduino.
For CyberBots – it would be great to have examples of ring light programs in python (I have a bunch of these from the Halloween project kits) and having examples of codes for this would be great.
Seasonal programming examples / projects / kits for any or all of these robots would also be welcome so students could push their skills, but still have something to compare with.
I get requests from parents in June about continuing their students’ robotics enthusiasm through the summer. Then another round in November for holiday gifts. It might work for P’lax to have semi-annual project kits. There would be a base kit around $100 (What’s A Microcontroller). Then make Summer and Winter project kits with target price around $40 (cost range that my parents are thinking for a gift).
I would not get into a subscription model, limited editions, cute names or other gimmicks. Just start the series of “2026 Winter – Distance Detection,” “2027 Spring – Sound Detection,” “2027 Winter – Understanding Transistors,” etc. A source of ideas is all the project postings from the P’lax community. When you see a good one, talk with the creator, add a note of credit in the online directions, a gift certificate. (But I do like one gimmick: include a custom sticker for each edition).
Maybe also SKU as class packs of maybe just 2 each of several editions. A shelf of them would be useful for me; I’d hand one to more advanced students to instantly implement scaffolding (now a word in my evaluations).
A cool aspect for P’lax is that these can be quick-reaction to hardware developments. If a new kind of temp sensor comes out, you don’t have to wait years to incorporate it into WAM. You can buy a relatively small quantity and have it in a P’lax product within 6 months.
As a guiding principle, I’d focus real hard on overcoming every problem of a self-learner. Would be good to include several of each of the key components in the box – lost or blown parts are part of life. In a class, I won’t have a lot of time to work with advanced students and can’t develop a deep knowledge of each kit. So include a very broad trouble-shoot guide. Develop a group of “student testers” that go through the candidate kit carefully, recording all mistakes they made. The online materials should have a troubleshooting page that is very easy for you to add new problems/solutions as they come in. Success will be from repeat sales, if the student (working alone) couldn’t finish the last box, the parents will never buy the next.
Ken, the manufacturing and automation direction you mentioned really resonates with us. At EnterpriseKC, we’re exploring introductory manufacturing experiences for middle school and early high school students, and I see a lot of potential in the micro:bit-based “What’s a Microcontroller” content and cyber:bot.
I’d love to see a connected series of manufacturing challenges where students measure a process, use sensors to monitor it, program a response, and test an improvement. Counting parts, checking quality, and moving materials between workstations could give teachers concrete ways to connect electronics and programming to manufacturing careers.
Having worked with Parallax on (the OG) Cyber Literacy and cyber:bot during my CYBER.ORG years, I’d be excited to explore how that foundation could serve another generation of learners. Happy to compare notes as our work develops!
I would love advanced curriculum. I have micro bits that I can use, but it is not enough for a semester.
I would love advanced curriculum. I have micro bits that I can use, but it is not enough for a semester.