Coding Without Screens? How Sphero Indi is Transforming Early STEM & Literacy Artwork

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Coding Without Screens? How Sphero Indi is Transforming Early STEM & Literacy

March 10, 2025 • Jacob Carr and Nathan Collins

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How do you teach computational thinking to kids without screens? In this episode, recorded live atTCEA in Austin, Texas, I sit down withNik from Sphero to talk aboutIndi, the screen-free coding robot that’s helping even the youngest learners develop problem-solving skills. But Indi isn’t just for coding—teachers are using it inELA, math, and more.

🎧Listen to hear:
✅ HowIndi teaches codingwithout screens
✅ How afirst-grade teacher used Indi forsentence-building
✅ Whyhands-on learning is critical forearly STEM & literacy

📌Opening Hook (0:00 - 1:30) – Live fromTCEA Austin! Why Sphero Indi is a game-changer for classrooms.

📌Segment 1: Why Indi? (1:30 - 4:30)

GuestNik from Sphero shares whya screen-free coding robot was developed.
HowIndi makes computational thinking physical instead of an abstract concept.
📢Watch my TikTok on Indi in action ➡ [TikTok Link]

📌Segment 2: Indi in Action – Sentence-Building with Robots? (4:30 - 8:00)

Teachersaren’t just using Indi for coding—they’reteaching literacy with it.
📚ELA Example: First gradersbuild sentences with Indi & color tiles.
🔄 Instant feedback: Indicelebrates when students build a correct sentence.

📌Closing & Call to Action (8:00 - 10:00)

Big takeaway: Computer science is aboutproblem-solving, not just coding.
Want to tryIndi in your classroom?Free ELA & Math lesson plans ⬇
Leave a voicemail: Share your experiences with hands-on learning tools!

📌Watch my TikTok on Indi: [TikTok Link]
📌Free Indi lesson plans (ELA & Math): [Sphero Central]
📌Leave a voicemail for the podcast: [SpeakPipe]
📌Follow on TikTok for more edtech insights: [@mr.carr.on.the.web]

✅Enjoyed this episode? Leave a5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more educators find the show!
✅Tag me on social! Share howyou’re using Indi (or any hands-on learning tool) in your classroom.

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🎙That’s it for today—see you next time on What Teachers Have to Say!

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