One of our former interns, high school student Da Hao Ding, reviewed an educational tool for us. He tried out the littleBits Space Kit, with which you can create your own electrical circuit. It was developed in collaboration with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and is for 14 years and older.The kit is priced at $189, or €140.
The littleBits Space Kit is a fun way to get involved with space and science for people from 14 years onwards. The kit consists of 12 ‘modules’, which are easily attachable to each other since they are magnetic. With these modules, an electrical circuit can be made. The kit comes with a booklet with instructions on many varying circuits. Users learn the very basic concepts of how things work, such as: ‘learn how satellites detect particles in the atmosphere’ and ‘learn about astronomy and project the night sky in your room’. It engages students through the means of experiencing something, by producing something themselves. Students learn from it by doing, instead of getting taught.
I built one of the model circuits that is in the booklet that comes with the kit - the energy meter. LittleBits has done a very good job of showing how easy it is to build circuits and making clear instructions. The assignments in the booklet hold valuable lessons, while keeping it simple. The instructions are well done; they contain everything such as difficulty, estimated time needed, etc. Sometimes you’ll need more than just the materials that come with the kit, which is perfectly understandable. It’s also cool that they have enhanced instructions and more projects online, in case you need them.
There are little (and small) downsides to this kit. One is the container that the kit comes in. For €140 I expect the design to be also well done on the inside, but the two containers with the modules are made of plain cardboard. The price is also kind of on the high side, considering all you get are 12 small modules.
All in all, the kit is a very good educational tool and I would definitely recommend schools to start using these in classes. If it interests you, it could also be purchased as a toy, since the package brings no more than fun and more fun. The kit has plenty of assignments and is a fun way to have students interact with science and space. The only downsides to it are a bad design on the inside and the high price. The kit deserves a 9/10.
This kit is available at a discount for UNAWE collaborators. Please contact us if you are interested: info@unawe.org
Share:
