Mindstorms EV3 for kids question

[JGW3000]

Hey guys, I am serious considering getting the EV3 set for my kids, so they can learn a bit about robotics and coding - they are 10 and 7, so should be age appropriate. I am not at all familiar with the EV3, so hopefully someone can answer these questions.

Can a Win 8/Win 10 PC be used to program the control brick?

Will an old smart phone (deactivated) be useful for bluetooth control?

Will this actually be a good introduction to coding?

Aside from the EV3 set, should I get additional sensors or motors - we have plenty of bricks and technic parts already, of course.

thanks!

[BusterHaus]

I'm using the Mindstorms software on Windows 8.1. I believe that as of very recently you can use a tablet to program it, too. For Bluetooth control the minimum Android version is 2.3.3 or iOS 6.0. I use a Nexus 5 and find the connection stable but buggy - you can get socket errors easily if you don't disconnect properly. I also prefer physical joysticks, so a touch screen is far from my favourite method of controlling the robots. My kids (same age as yours) have enjoyed it more than me.

I programmed a couple of robots with my older son in the past two years. The programming interface is very easy to understand and use, even for kids. I don't see it as an introduction to coding, but more to thinking like a programmer. You learn about loops, if statements, inputs and outputs, how to structure a program and so on, but you don't learn a programming language. The models that are provided by Lego are excellent tutorial tools and take you through the programming step by step, but you are not writing any code in the official Mindstorms software. You can use other programming languages or IDEs to write programs, but that's a little more complicated.

The basic home set has enough sensors and motors to keep you busy for a long time. If your kids have a specific project in mind, you can always buy additional sensors and motors.

[MajorAlvega]

Strongly agree with previous answer.

EV3 «native» software is good to learn concepts - both robotics and programming - but you don't quite learn a programming language. For young kids, thats actually good as it might prevent bad coding habits.

I have a 7 yr kid, I think he is not ready for EV3 programming yet. But he uses it once in a while since I got my first one, 3 years ago so he is now familiar with motors and sensors and basic algorithms. I expect to introduce him to visual programming with Snap! or Scratch (beacuse I also use LEGO WeDo and Raspberry Pi) and then the LEGO software.

You can use 3rd party software with the EV3 so perhaps after a while your 10 yr kid (and/or you) might try some advanced options. Microsoft has a Robotics option for Visual Studio compatible with EV3, was free 2 years ago. RobotC is also quite strong and there are also quite strong open source projects like LejOS (Java based) and ev3dev (linux for the EV3 with several languages like Python, C, Lua...)

It's good to have extra Technic parts as you do. There are lots of examples in the Net with just the default motors/sensors, having extra bricks helps to extend/customize them.

[lee82gx]

If I may just wade in.

I have the home set 31313 and found the lack of the ultrasonic sensor and gyro sensor slightly disappointing.

I'd get the education set 45544 and complement it with the IR sensor and remote.

[JGW3000]

Thanks for the detailed responses! The 45544 may be a better option, as it comes with rechargeable battery and is the same price as 31313 (no VIP points though), will get the IR sensor and remote as suggested by lee82gx.

[JJ2]

will get the IR sensor and remote as suggested by lee82gx.

Don't get thee Ev3 remote if you have a power functions one. The power functions remote is compatible with ev3 and vise versa. You will save a LOT of money this way ($30) the only difference is the extra button. Edited August 6, 2015 by JJ2

[Block_Smarts Lego Technic]

Hey guys, I am serious considering getting the EV3 set for my kids, so they can learn a bit about robotics and coding - they are 10 and 7, so should be age appropriate. I am not at all familiar with the EV3, so hopefully someone can answer these questions.

Can a Win 8/Win 10 PC be used to program the control brick?

Will an old smart phone (deactivated) be useful for bluetooth control?

Will this actually be a good introduction to coding?

Aside from the EV3 set, should I get additional sensors or motors - we have plenty of bricks and technic parts already, of course.

thanks!

Will this actually be a good introduction to coding?

In my opinion, no. Its putting pictures together really. But you do learn about loops and stuff like that like what Buster said

Don't get thee Ev3 remote if you have a power functions one. The power functions remote is compatible with ev3 and vise versa. You will save a LOT of money this way ($30) the only difference is the extra button.

Really? How!?

[JJ2]

Really? How!?

It just works

[Vodnik]

I've read that the 45544 does not come with a software license?

[Jarren]

I've read that the 45544 does not come with a software license?

It does not come with the education software license. The edu software is slightly different from the free commercial software available here: http://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/download-software

The only issue is that the starter models and guides between the two are different, but there are plenty of other resources available online. The edu software also has a few extra features I think, but nothing that is a must have.

[RohanBeckett]

Not sure about the home software, but the Educational side usually has a seperate Data Logging feature... designed to use the NXT to take measurements over a long period (light patterns, temperature, moisture, etc)