Marty introduces foundation concepts in programming, such as sequencing and the relationship between instructions and operations. As a physical tool, Marty helps kids see concrete results from abstract concepts – Marty’s reactions correspond directly and instantly to the code sequences built by the programmer, a simple yet very significant reward that engages the learner in a much more profound way. It can be argued that all coding robots can move on command, but no other robot has nine smart motors that can be controlled individually (meaning each ‘limb’ can be manoeuvred independently), a patent-pending walking mechanism, or the ability to show emotion like Marty.
Marty can be up and running within minutes and is easy to use. As well as a suite of complimentary online resources to help teachers plan and deliver lessons, there are guides and activities for teachers to more effectively assess learners’ understanding as they move through the levels, as well as online support via live chat and a help centre. Marty can easily integrate with other areas of learning such as ELA and math, offering cross-curricular opportunities. Lessons follow various national and regional curricula and enable all learners to complete objectives and achieve success criteria.
Formats:
Marty can be programmed from any PC, Android or iOS device using our app.
Primary URL:
Problem solved:
Teacher confidence is one of the biggest barriers to the delivery of STEM education in schools. Specialist STEM resources are expensive and funding is another big challenge. Our aim is to try and remove as many of these barriers as possible: Marty packs a lot of tech into a small, affordable unit that can be adopted from kindergarten to high school and beyond. It’s an investment that stacks up.
Our online Learning Portal contains an expansive and ever-growing range of learning and teaching resources to enable teachers to better deliver STEM education from an early age.
As well as our easy online ‘Quick Start’ guide we offer complimentary teacher training to help teachers become familiar with Marty’s features, functionality and learning resources (see above). We offer onboarding guidance by way of ‘how to’ guides, articles and FAQs in our online Knowledge Base. We also offer live chat and email support, however most users find that getting set up using our online resources is straightforward and intuitive.
For large school-wide purchases, we offer in-person training that is customized to suit the specific school’s needs.
Grade/age range:
Every grade but the sweet spot is K-5
Core or supplemental:
Marty the Robot and the Robotical learning resources address core computer science curricula, that is now offered in over 50% of the states in the US. Teachers use Marty to teach computer science, math and science lessons. In the younger grades, Marty is also used to promote reading, writing, speaking and learning additional languages.
Being a humanoid robot, it’s also been shown that Marty is particularly effective in teaching children on the autistic spectrum (ASD). The humanized appearance generates a higher level of interest and interaction in children with autism and the robot’s rule-based nature puts them at ease. It has also been used successfully in teaching social interaction, such as turn-taking when playing games.
Marty has been great for nurturing struggling students – students perceive Marty to be non-threatening and less judgemental than teachers and are therefore more willing to make mistakes in front of them.
In terms of professional development, Robotical offers 1:1 teacher training with an in-house educational expert to build teachers’ confidence when it comes to teaching coding, robotics and STEM.
Subject area:
Marty is a STEM tool that is principally used in CS but can also integrate with other areas in the curriculum.
The Robotical learning resources are mapped to CSTA and ISTE standards. They are also aligned to various other national curricula, such as Australia, England and Scotland.
Lesson time needed:
We currently have over 50 hours of lesson materials on the Learning Portal. Each lesson states the objectives that can be achieved by following it. It states the curriculum standards the lesson covers and offers additional materials to ‘extend’ the objectives for high-achieving students or ‘support’ those who require extra help to achieve the lesson objectives.
We find that many teachers create their own lesson plans, based on their areas of focus and expertise.
Pricing model:
We offer a no-obligation, two-week trial to allow schools to make an informed decision before considering a big investment.
While we sell Marty individually, schools can take advantage of five bundle offers, which range from five to 50 robots, priced $2,225 and $17,990 respectively, and offers a better value with STEM class extras included; in the pack come additional sensors, additional batteries and a battery charging cradle for better classroom management. Our ten-robot bundle at $3,999 is the most popular package.
We recommend a 3:1 student to robot ratio when using Marty in a classroom setting in order to encourage communication, problem solving and team work. Most schools tend to use the robots right across the elementary years on rotation. And because Robotical has a two-year guarantee, there are no additional costs for repair and refurbishment for the first couple of years. Regular upgrades and ongoing technical support are included in the price.
Additional services:
Our Learning Portal houses comprehensive curriculum-linked teaching resources that are free to access and enable educators to plan and deliver activities that meet success criteria. Progressive learning paths are set out for all skill levels, with activities and guides that allow teachers to focus on facilitating learning experiences and reporting on progress, while students advance at a comfortable pace. Lesson plans are continually being aligned to CSTA and ISTE.
What makes Robotical unique?
There is no other robot that offers the breadth of learning progression, from unplugged coding and block-based programming right through to Python - Marty is a flexible STEM tool that grows with learners.
Characteristics:
A human-like form with an expressive face makes Marty distinctly relatable to learners. We know through research that children are quite traditional in their views of how a robot should look and because there is a physical resemblance in Marty that no other robot can match (unless you are prepared to spend upwards of $8,000 for a single robot) children are much quicker to form a connection. Marty is built from robust moulded plastic parts with nine metal-geared motors that control limbs individually meaning Marty can walk, sidestep, kick, balance and turn. Despite coming pre-assembled, Marty can be easily taken apart and rebuilt so learners can understand each component part and how they work to make the whole. Standard features in Marty V2 are motor position sensors, acceleration and tilt sensor, Infrared (IR) sensor for obstacle detection, colour sensor for screen-free coding; Bluetooth, WiFi, USB and I2C connectivity. Marty is also compatible with Raspberry Pi and BBC micro:bit.
Marty can be operated via the Robotical app and is exceptionally easy to set up and use – there is no login required. Our recently launched MartyBlocks Jr, based on ScratchJr, is aimed at young children (age 5-7) and differs from any other introductory platform in that you see your Marty sprite from a bird’s eye view, with motion blocks mimicking Marty’s movements in the real world. Features have been carefully crafted to match their cognitive, personal, social and emotional development. To help pre-readers, we use icon blocks not text blocks and they are color-coded to correspond to sound, emotion, movement and more. MartyBlocks is designed for children age 8+ and based on Scratch 3.0. Advanced coders can also program Marty using Python. There is a versatility and sophistication in Marty that no other robot used in education can match.
Here is what users are saying:
“The minute I brought Marty out of the box, the kids’ reaction was incredible. They were cheering, they loved it. I don’t think they had ever seen anything like it before. With the stickers on it, and the smiley face - it made it more personable and the kids thought it was super cool. Very easy to get started – we had it moving within 10 seconds out of the box.”
--Chris Butt, Technology Teacher, Glenview School, Canada
“The team at Robotical provides excellent support and detailed information so educators can start coding with their students. Marty the Robot promotes student engagement and a passion for STEAM in a practical, stimulating, and challenging way for all learners.”
--Jennifer Roeder, Education Specialist, ProLogic
