LEGO Education

Educational Extras: Storage Bins

One way the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT base set is designed to appeal to teachers is the inclusion of sturdy storage bins and sorting trays. These make clean up and inventory much easier at the end of the class, and since the storage bins are stackable, it's much easier to keep your classroom organized. The two sorting trays fit easily inside the bin with plenty of room for all the parts included in the set. Another interesting feature of the bins are drainage holes in the bottom of the bin, making them easy to clean. So, if you accidentally spill somthing on your set, don't worry about the box staying sticky for ever!

NXT Display Navigation

One of the neatest new features of the NXT brick is its large LCD screen.  Using the display to navigate the NXT's controls is one way you have more control over the brick. 

There are six main menus within the NXT navigation: My Files, NXT Program, View, Bluetooth, Settings, and Try Me.  Each of these has additional sub-menus that let you control or view various settings.

We've created a basic NXT Navigation Map that shows all the menus and sub-menus within the NXT navigation - take a look!  It'll come in handy once you get your hands on a new set, since you'll already be familiar with the new interface.

NXT Navigation Map (PDF, 252 KB)

MINDSTORMS Education Video

Students and teachers in Dorking, UK, got to use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT and share their opinions and experiences. CLICK HERE to check it out!

FIRST LEGO League Registration

Registration for FIRST LEGO League is now open!  For more information regarding FLL, visit their site, http://www.firstlegoleague.org/.  To register your team and place your order for a FLL Robot Set, visit http://www.register4fll.com/. 

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Don't forget, if you are interested in participating in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Pilot Program, you'll need to complete the online application by May 31st!

LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Pilot Program

Would you like to use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT in your classroom? Would you like to know you’re one of the first to implement LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT into your curriculum? Would you relish the opportunity to influence the development of future curriculum for the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT? The LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Pilot Program may be looking for you. The purpose of the Pilot Program is to get the NXT hardware, software, and curriculum into the hands of passionate and innovative teachers and their students. LEGO Education is offering such early adopters a reduced price in exchange for evaluation and feedback on the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education curriculum. LEGO Education will then use the teachers’ feedback to guide future software and curriculum development. In the future, pilot classrooms may also be featured as model classrooms for educators who are interested in using LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT in their schools. More details below the jump. LEGO MINDSTORMS Education (LME) Pilot Guidelines Potential Pilot Program participants must:

• Fill out an application and be involved in education (the application deadline will be May 31st). Applicants to the program will be notified by June 30th of selection or non-selection into the program.
  • LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Pilot Program Application
• Agree to at least one visit from a LEGO Education consultant in your area in order to gain feedback.
• Be able to issue Purchase Order or Credit Card payment for a total of $600 for four LME Base sets, one classroom license of LME software, and the Mobile Robotics and Engineering Projects Curriculum (retail value $1690).
  • LME Base sets – MINDSTORMS Education NXT (retail value $250)
  • LME Software – Classroom license of LEGO MINDSTORMS Education software (retail value $240)
  • Curriculum 1 - Mobile Robotics CD set – includes six weeks of activities including an exhaustive introduction to robotics, programming, and building, while addressing math, science, and tech concepts. (retail value $225)
  • Curriculum 2 - Engineering Projects – includes twelve weeks of guided research and applied engineering robotics projects. (retail value $225)
• Be willing to communicate with and share feedback with other Pilot participants as well as with the LEGO Education corporate offices via a secure blog/forum environment (the blog will breakdown the curriculum by activities so participants can post their feedback to the blog after completion of each activity).
• Use the LME set during the pilot timeframe and abide to the completion dates for the curriculum as follows:
1. Mobile Robotics CD set finished and feedback posted to the blog no later than October 6th.
2. First 3 weeks of the Engineering Projects CD set finished and feedback posted to the blog no later than November 3rd.
3. The rest of the Engineering Project CD set (or just as much as is it possible to finish) completed by Dec 1st and feedback posted to the blog.
• Fill out an evaluation form and submit before Dec 10th.

Other Details:

• Pilot program runs from August 15, 2006 through December 1, 2006.
• LEGO Education will work with Pilot group participants to obtain proper releases for testimonials from teachers and students.
• LME Pilot program will consist of 50 education sites.
• Pilot group participants must teach in the US.
• If participants develop activities for use with LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT system and would like to share them with other educators, they are welcome to submit them to the LEGO Education Activity Submission Page.
• Any additional sets not included in the pilot may be purchased at regular price. More information regarding individual sets and other LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT products is available here.

Please direct any questions regarding the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Pilot Program to NXT@LEGOeducation.com.