RoboMind

What RoboMind is

RoboMind Academy is a free web-based learning service that teaches computational thinking through programming a virtual robot. It is designed to introduce automation and programming to primary pupils from age 8, with no prerequisites. Its self-contained courses combine presentations, movies, quizzes and exercises; Basics 1 and Basics 2 are suggested for primary schools. When students run programs, they receive immediate visual feedback and can use hints to improve their solutions. Teachers can monitor progress through challenges, presentations and quizzes, with that progress stored in the cloud. Presentations, quizzes and programming challenges can be used on smartboards, and students can complete lessons at their own pace. The Academy requires internet access and an up-to-date browser. Course materials can be used on desktop computers, tablets and smartboards. The maker says the service collects no personal data, uses no tracking cookies and is subject to GDPR. Teachers can identify themselves with a Microsoft or Google account; the maker says no personal information is sent to the Academy during this step. RoboMind Academy was developed in 2013 as an initiative by Arvid Halma, Ernst Bovenkamp and Jan van Oorschot, and is currently maintained by Jan van Oorschot. Printable course certificates were removed in 2023 because of security concerns over the PDF plugin.

Who it suits

RoboMind Academy suits primary pupils aged 8 and up who are beginning to learn programming and computational thinking, along with teachers guiding classroom lessons. Its courses, progress monitoring and smartboard activities also suit schools that want students to work through programming challenges at their own pace.

Limits

The free School access plan costs nothing. Printable course certificates are unavailable because they were removed in 2023.

Getting started

1. Open the RoboMind Academy website in an up-to-date browser with internet access.
2. Use the course materials on a desktop computer, tablet or smartboard.
3. Teachers can identify themselves with a Microsoft or Google account.
4. Begin with Basics 1 or Basics 2, which are suggested for primary schools.

Verdict

Choose RoboMind Academy for a free introduction to programming and computational thinking for primary pupils, with lessons and progress tools for classroom use. Schools that need printable course certificates should look elsewhere, as those certificates were removed in 2023.