Marty the Robot: Bringing STEM Topics to a Classroom Near You

Software engineering, computer programming, robotics, and other STEM fields are projected to grow in employment opportunity five times faster than the average job in the next 10 years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If we know that the demand for these jobs is growing and will most likely continue to grow for some time, shouldn’t we be introducing young students to these areas of study to familiarize them with what they may be pursuing in the near future? Sure, the notion of fitting a python coding class in between art and reading class for 6th graders may seem ridiculous. But with the proper resources, mentality, and teacher aide, perhaps it isn’t so far-fetched. 

Let me introduce you to Marty the Robot. Marty is being developed for classroom use to introduce students to STEM concepts such as robotics and programming. The robot is tailored to attract interest in young students through its customizable cartoonish features and hands-on learning opportunity. Marty can be purchased pre-assembled if teachers would prefer to skip straight to the coding, which utilizes a simplified version of Python, in a matter of minutes. A more challenging and fun experience is available for those who would like to assemble their own Marty, giving groups of 1-3 students hands-on experience in mechanics, electronics, and engineering. Modifications allow students to give Marty a camera, allowing it to partake in human activities such as playing football. Marty’s parts can be 3D-printed, allowing students to further customize their robot and gain experience with 3D printing technology. More advanced modifications include extra distance sensors and LED grids which can be used to give Marty the ability to solve mazes. 

Still not convinced that Marty the Robot holds a valuable space in the classroom? Although being around for only a year, he has made an impact on many teachers and students. Here are some examples:

“Marty has been a head turner with students! He works really well across all of the age groups at GoCode. The younger kids love his human features and are able to use Scratch to get up and running with Marty quickly. For the older kids they’re able to explore coding in more detail by moving onto Python and see the physical connection between hardware and software.”

Rushil Shah, COO at GoCode Academy

“Having something physical to move, away from a computer screen, helps pupils better understand what happens when they input certain commands. It moves the lessons from theoretical to practical and pupils can see the interaction between software and hardware. Marty is cute and engaging which makes it easy to introduce him in the classroom. But he also demonstrates how coding can be applied in the real world as he can interact with his surroundings.”

Jonathan Baxter, Depute Head at The Flora Stevenson Primary School

“Playing and learning with Marty has been great fun, and it definitely has taught me a lot about engineering and computer programming which will help me in my future career. I definitely want to do engineering at university, and Marty has just made me more determined to make this happen. I have even taught Marty to feed my dog, so I’m wondering what other household chores he could help me with, maybe he could tidy my room or wash the dishes?! ”

Iona, 15 years old

Marty the Robot was developed by the education and technology consultancy, I Am Learner, based in Scotland. Their mission is to give schools the confidence to introduce subjects that may have a daunting connotation in early education such as robotics and computer programming. They have combined more than 60 years of working in real educational and technological projects across the world. You can read more about them and Marty the Robot here. 

Each Marty the Robot kit can be purchased for about $200. Schools can buy a 10 robot classroom pack for a little over $2,000. Although this may be financially unfeasible for many schools, perhaps with increased funding in the near future from the government and private entities Marty could become a classroom staple. One thing is for sure, if America is to keep up with countries such as China in the realms of education and technology, it is imperative that we look into more efficient and effective ways to teach our children relevant subjects they will need to know in order to contribute to the modern workforce.