tech & equipment at the education libraries

perfect for stem learning: as a tactile learning toy, the 3doodler start inspires creativity, design, planning, building and spatial understanding. plastic hardens rapidly allowing kids to literally draw in the air with only one speed and one temperature.--amazon website.

"arduino is a tool for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world than your desktop computer. it's an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board."--arduino.cc website.

dash is an app-controlled robot with plenty of personality who explores any room, getting into funny situations and adventures. using sensors, dash can detect objects in front and behind, hear where sounds are coming from, and run programs you code from the push of a button. dot is a puppet master who instigates the adventures that dash goes on. tossing, shaking, or picking up dot can send a signal telling dash what to do. dot can also tell stories using lights, sounds, and eye expressions. start by sending simple commands, learn programming concepts as you play, and progress to creating more complex algorithms. in order to interact with dash & dot you need one of the supported android or ios devices.

snap circuits® teaches basic engineering, electronics and circuitry concepts by using building components with snaps to assemble electronic circuits on a simple “rows-and-columns” base grid. the resulting projects function like the printed circuit board found in most electronic products. each snap circuits® part is easily identifiable by a different color and purpose, and each kit includes an easy-to-follow project manual. our innovative product line offers a wide range of kits, in differing size and complexity, perfect for future engineers ages 8+, with a beginner set designed for kids ages 5+.

"littlebits ... consists of tiny circuit-boards with specific functions engineered to snap together with magnets. no soldering, no wiring, no programming, just snap together for prototyping, learning and fun. each bit has a specific function (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, motors, etc), and modules snap to make larger circuits. ... littlebits are small, simple, intuitive, blocks that make creating with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together."

makey makey is an invention kit for the 21st century. turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. it's a simple invention kit for beginners and experts doing art, engineering, and everything in between.

interactive games involving drawing, coding, spelling, and more.

"learning how to control ozobot is easy, through color codes with just regular paper and four primary color markers. then your child can advance with exciting diy and stem activities that are as limitless as your child's own creativity. finally, they will master with technology and have hours of fun using ozobot apps and web-based games and challenges"--ozobot bit website.