Wonder Workshop: Dash & Dot Robots for Coding Play on Apps

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Wonder Workshop is an award-winning creator of educational toys and resources designed to inspire kids of all ages to explore the world of coding, robotics, and creative problem-solving. With its thoughtful design and approachable personality, Wonder Workshop has become a trusted name in elementary schools and tech centers worldwide, offering tools that make STEM fields accessible and engaging for students in grades K-8.

At the heart of Wonder Workshop’s offerings is the Dash robot, a real robot that combines hands-on play with educational value. Dash, along with its companion Dot robot, is designed to introduce students to their first coding tool in a fun and intuitive way. These robots are equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology, allowing them to connect seamlessly to LE-enabled devices like tablets and smartphones. Through the Wonder Workshop app, available on the Apple Store and other platforms, students can embark on coding adventures that range from beginner-friendly challenges to more complex tasks.

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How to Use Wonder Workshop in the Classroom

Getting Started with Dash and Dot:
Teachers can introduce students to Dash and Dot using the Wonder Workshop app, which features a picture-based language perfect for young learners. The app includes pre-built lessons and a coding canvas where students can drag and drop commands to control their robots.

For older students, the Make Wonder platform offers more advanced coding opportunities, including Blockly and JavaScript, allowing students to progress as their skills grow.

The intuitive design of the apps ensures that even beginners can quickly start coding, while the platform’s scalability supports more complex projects for advanced learners. This flexibility makes Dash and Dot suitable for a wide range of ages and skill levels, from kindergarten to middle school.

Engaging Activities and Challenges:
Wonder Workshop provides a variety of free apps and resources to keep students engaged and motivated. For example, Scroll Quest takes students on an interactive journey through the African grasslands or the Arctic wilderness, combining storytelling with coding challenges.

Meanwhile, Go for Dash & Dot Robots offers a set of challenges like the Desert Race Drifter or a game of Marco Polo, which encourages open-ended play and creative problem-solving.

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These activities are designed to spark curiosity and allow students to explore new ideas while developing critical thinking and collaboration skills. By blending fun with learning, Wonder Workshop ensures that students remain excited about coding and robotics.

Transforming Dash and Dot:
One of the most exciting features of Wonder Workshop robots is the ability to transform Dash using building brick connectors. Students can customize Dash to create their own inventions, giving the robot a whole new personality. Whether it’s turning Dash into a ferocious lion, a pong arcade, or a desert race car, the possibilities are endless.

This hands-on customization fosters the joy of creativity and helps students see coding as a tool for bringing their imaginations to life.

By combining physical building with digital programming, students gain a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to solve real-world problems.

Free Play Mode and Pre-Built Lessons:
For younger students or those new to coding, free play mode provides a low-pressure environment to experiment with Dash and Dot. This mode encourages exploration and allows students to learn at their own pace. Teachers can also access pre-built lessons that are aligned with educational standards, making it easy to integrate Wonder Workshop robots into the curriculum.

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These lessons cover a wide range of topics, from basic coding concepts to more advanced programming challenges, ensuring that students of every skill level are both challenged and supported. Whether used for independent exploration or structured learning, Dash and Dot offer endless opportunities for growth and discovery.

Benefits for the Classroom

Wonder Workshop robots are far more than just toys—they are powerful tools for learning that help students build essential problem-solving skills. By engaging in hands-on play and embarking on coding adventures, students develop critical thinking abilities that are vital for success in STEM fields and beyond. The concrete nature of coding with a real robot, like Dash or Dot, allows students to grasp abstract concepts in a tangible and meaningful way.

These robots also serve as the perfect companions for group activities, fostering collaboration and teamwork. Whether students are working together to complete a set of challenges or creating their own inventions, they learn to communicate effectively, share ideas, and think critically.

To support educators in integrating these tools into the classroom, Wonder Workshop offers a wealth of professional development resources, including webinars, tutorials, and lesson plans. Renowned educators like Naomi Meredith and Debra Jacoby have shared their experiences, providing inspiration and practical strategies for using Wonder Workshop robots in an educational setting.

Additionally, Wonder Workshop is deeply committed to protecting data privacy, adhering to strict security practices outlined in its privacy policy and terms of service. This ensures that students’ information remains safe, giving teachers and parents peace of mind.

Beyond the technical skills, Wonder Workshop robots inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity in students. From the outer space adventures of Path for Dash Robot to the new sounds and fun ideas students can program, these robots ignite creativity and imagination. By introducing coding at a young age, teachers empower students to see themselves as creators and innovators, equipping them with the confidence and skills to tackle the challenges of the future.

Wonder Workshop truly brings the joy of creativity and the thrill of discovery into the classroom.

Why Teachers Love Wonder Workshop

Wonder Workshop has earned numerous accolades, including the “Toy of the Year” Award, for its innovative approach to education. Teachers appreciate the thoughtful design of the robots, their longer battery life, and the free apps that make it easy to get started. Whether students are coding a virtual robot or controlling a real robot like Dash, they’re gaining valuable skills that will serve them well in computer science and other fields.

In conclusion, Wonder Workshop is more than just a robotics company—it’s a gateway to the world of coding and creative problem-solving. By bringing Dash, Dot, and the Make Wonder platform into the classroom, teachers can inspire their students to explore, create, and innovate, all while having fun. With its approachable personality and commitment to data privacy, Wonder Workshop is the ideal partner for educators looking to bring the joy of creativity and a sense of wonder to their students.