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The Finch Robot

Expanding access to computer science through tangible coding experiences grounded in research about student engagement.

This educational technology tool can be programmed in five different coding languages, from Scratch to Java, making it immediately accessible to learners of any age and ability. A free loan program and resources to integrate into core curriculum helps any educator expose students to computer science as part of the regular school day.

Pittsburgh
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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

Pittsburgh, USA

Web presence

2011

Established

250K

Children

1

Countries
Updated
March 2019
My students fell in love with the Finch robots and many say they will always remember the glowing nose. They felt proud that they were able to problem solve and program a robot.

About the innovation

How can we afford ALL students the opportunities that come with learning computer science?

The Finch Robot was created at Carnegie Mellon University as part of a research program that aimed to create tools that improved motivation and interest in studying STEM. The hands-on, interactive nature of the Finch Robot engaged students who may have felt computer science, with its solitary sitting and looking at a screen reputation, was not for them.


In 2020, BirdBrain launched the next generation of the Finch Robot, Finch Robot 2.0. Eliminating the USB tether and featuring improved movement, LED lights, and sensors, this revolutionary update to the Finch hardware ensures the robot can continue to serve its mission of deep and joyful computer science learning for many years to come.

When BirdBrain Technologies was created as a company in 2010, our founder, Dr. Tom Lauwers, quickly realized that the benefits of physical computing would not be shared equally among all students, due to the cost of educational technology. To combat this problem he started the Finch Robot loan program, enabling schools to borrow this innovative technology for free with the hopes that one day all students would have the chance to program a robot as a part of their regular school day.

The program has grown over the years and we are now loaning 1200 Finch Robots at any given time to schools across the United States. Our loans have reached over 1000 organizations in all 50 states and Washington DC. We loan to organizations serving students in juvenile detention settings, on Native American reservations, working with students with autism and other learning disabilities, girls working in single-sex environments, deaf students, among many others. In the Remake Learning area alone we’ve reached schools in rural, suburban, and urban settings. Many of our loan organizations work with youth from low-income families and from ethnicities underrepresented in computer science. So far we’ve reached over 168,000 students with our free robot loans, and we’re still going!

We hear many positive stories about how students respond to the Finch Robots; a few of these are collected in the posts below. In addition to experiencing hands-on computer science learning, students have used the Finch Robots to advocate for computer science education with their school boards and superintendents. Some students have even taken the Finches on road trips to their state houses to impress upon their state politicians the need for innovative education. In New Hampshire an enterprising group of students helped save their teacher’s job from being eliminated, using the Finch Robot loan as an example:

“Our district is making significant cutbacks for next year, my job was proposed to be eliminated, however, it was put back in after the students voiced their feedback.... They used the Finch Robots as an example of what learning is all about and how FUN needs to be part of their learning experiences. Incredible testament.”

Another program outcome is that teachers use the Finch Robot loan to build community with their peers. Many loan recipients have used the robots to provide professional development within their districts, as well as at local EdCamps. Loan recipients have also given Finch Robot presentations at regional and national conferences, such as the National Science Teachers Association and SXSWedu. Additionally, when teachers from the same district apply for a loan we introduce them to each other and they form a cohort of innovative teachers in a district, working together on bringing robotics to their students. The excitement generated by the loan can often catalyze a permanent change at an organization, most specifically by allowing participating teachers to generate community interest to advocate for permanent computer science offerings. The addition of the loan robots to an existing computer science class can catalyze interest in the class, and teachers often borrow the robots specifically to boost enrollment in their existing classes.

The loan program also allows us to continuously receive feedback on how to improve our offerings to better meet the needs of diverse users. We adapt our materials and add new lessons based on loan program feedback. We also participate in ongoing research using the Finch Robot; a professor at Southern Utah University used the loan Finch Robots to demonstrate the feasibility of providing robotics education at scale in a low-income, rural, elementary population.

At BirdBrain Technologies we believe that all students, regardless of background, have a right to learn computer science in deep and joyful ways. The Finch Robot Loan Program is our way of diversifying the reach of our robots and inspiring young programmers across the country.




Impact & scalability

Implementation steps

Investment in Educational Technology

Investigate which educational technologies will most benefit the populations you wish to engage. Some questions you may want to consider when choosing educational technology:

Does the product have a low-floor (easy to use for beginners or young students) and a high-ceiling (provides complex challenges for advanced or older students)?

Was the product designed with teacher and student needs in mind or was it designed as a toy and then sold to the educational market?

Is the product backed by research?

Does the product engage different groups of students equally or was it designed with certain groups in mind?Can the product be incorporated into existing, interdisciplinary curriculum?

Do the educators you aim to loan to have the necessary equipment (computers, etc.) to use the product? Does the product work with multiple types of hardware?

Professional Development

Consider the geographic scope of the educators you will lend to.

If they are in a limited area then consider providing in-person professional development to ensure the loaned products can be incorporated into diverse educational settings.If the loan recipients are geographically dispersed then consider online lessons and activities that recipients can customize for their needs. Online webinars and robust tech support are also helpful.

Logistics

Application process - When will you open and close your loan application, or will you accept applications on a rolling basis? How will you get the word out about your loan program? What selection criteria will you use to choose who will receive a loan?

Geography - Will the loan recipients be in close proximity to each other, or geographically dispersed? If the latter consider scheduling loans in a region one after another to avoid transit time. Sometimes educators can even meet in person to exchange the loan, providing a great opportunity for community building.

Length of loan - How long a loan is necessary to provide an impact for the population you wish to serve? How do you weigh that against being able to reach to more educators?

Surplus loan materials - Products will get lost, incorrectly shipped, broken, and mis-treated. Do you have enough extra to account for these mishaps?

Support - Do you have a dedicated staff person who can handle communications with loan recipients, tech support, logistical support, and troubleshoot any unforeseen problems?

Sharing - How will you celebrate loan successes and share those with other educators?

Spread of the innovation

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