Topic: Digital materials/resources and emerging technologies.

Within my library service one of the main questions we receive from parents is about what  STEM related activities or resources that can be accessed from the library. We already offer a number of take home kits, Spark Discover Boxes, and during term time we hold a Code Club at one of our bigger branches. However we have been looking at new technologies that we can introduce into the collection to help with this growing demand. There is a growing demand for exposure to STEM activities in both schools and libraries within the immediate future. The rate at which technology is advancing, it is important that the children now are developing these different skills from an early age so they are able to fill STEM specific roles when they are ready (Jacobs, 2017, p.68). The technology we are looking into trialling for our library is the Ozobot and we purchased one to see how it worked.  

The Ozobot is a robot that can be coded using two different ways, online using Ozobot Blockly, a program created by Ozobot or screen free using different colour codes. Each pack comes with one Ozobot, coloured pens and a charging cable and the little robot has roughly an hour charge at the ready. On their website they provide a host of free instructional videos and printouts to help those first time users of the technology. For library staff who would encounter any questions about the use of the equipment there are free to view webinars on getting to know how to use and any troubleshooting issues that may arise (Ozobot, 2022).

From my experience I found the colour coding sheets easy to follow and I was able to get the little Ozobot to navigate the pages that I tried. For younger children this would be a great way to learn and develop early coding skills, while using the program Ozobot Blockly would suit the older children who can use computer programs to help code the robot in more sophisticated ways. As a whole I thought this little robot is a wonderful tool that can be used within libraries to help support the learning needs of children in STEM related areas. As public libraries have a great impact on the community it is vital that they are promoting lifelong learning skills and e-learning through their services. Supporting the developing needs of children and young adults needs to be at the forefront of their programming (Abumandour, 2019, p.183). 

What I found when researching other library services to see what STEM and makerspace activities and resources they were offering was that so many have technology and coding resources for their patrons. Many had specific Ozobot workshops, The Central Coast Library service is running 4 throughout June (Central Coast Council, 2022) and The City of Sydney Library offer take home makerspace kits, with one being the Ozobot Bit 2.0 (City of Sydney, 2022). As a librarian I think it is vital to help children extend their learning and develop new skills by exposing them to these new technologies. Looking and exploring different ways of achieving this is a skill that we as professionals need to think about constantly and reflect on our service so we are able to meet the needs of all our community. 

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References

Abumandour, E.T. (2019). Public libraries’ role in supporting e-learning and spreading lifelong education: A case study. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 14(2), 178-217. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-06-2019-0063 

Central Coast Council. (2022). Ozobot robotics. https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries/whats-on/ozobots-robotics 

City of Sydney. (2022). Makerspace kits. https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/library-collections/makerspace-kits 

Jacobs, B. R. (2017). Transforming your library into a learning playground: A practical guide for public librarians. Libraries Unlimited: California. 

Ozobot. (2022). Frequently asked questions. https://ozobot.com/support/faq