Junior Rasmussen
LEGO Mindstorms and WeDo are both educational robotics kits that can be used to teach children programming and robotics. The Mindstorms kit is more complex and expensive, and may be more suitable for older children or those with more experience in robotics. The WeDo kit is a cheaper alternative, more suitable for younger children, and can be a good starting point for those new to robotics and programming. Both kits offer different programming languages as options, with WeDo 2.0 being suitable for preschoolers and lower primary students, while Mindstorms may require more experience with block-based languages.
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Age appropriateness
When it comes to age appropriateness, Lego WeDo 2.0 is aimed at younger children, from preschoolers to lower primary students, aged around 6-10. It's often used in schools for introductory courses, giving children their first experience of coding and robotics in a simple and accessible way. The models are motorised and codable, and the gears are great for demonstrating mechanical concepts. It's also compatible with standard Lego and Lego Technic bricks, making it easy to add extra features and get creative.
Lego Mindstorms, on the other hand, is more advanced and suited to older children, typically aged 11+. It offers more features and capabilities, including additional motors, sensors, and a gyroscope. The coding is more complex, and it's designed for those who already have a basic understanding of programming concepts. Mindstorms is a step up from WeDo 2.0 and is often used in more advanced classes or by those with more experience.
Lego Boost is another option, which is similar in function to WeDo 2.0 but aimed at the same age group (6-10 years old). It has a motorised hub and a separate motor, but lacks some of the sensors found in other kits.
For those seeking an intermediate option, Lego Spike Prime sits between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms in terms of complexity. It's designed for primary school students and offers a programming environment similar to Scratch, making it a good choice for learning programming fundamentals.
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Cost
When it comes to cost, Lego WeDo 2.0 is the more affordable option. It is designed to be an entry point into coding and robotics, particularly for younger children, and is commonly used in schools for introductory courses. WeDo 2.0 is also compatible with standard Lego and Lego Technic bricks, making it easy to add extra features.
Lego Mindstorms, on the other hand, is a more advanced system aimed at older children (around 11+). It is more expensive but offers more features, including four motors, a distance sensor, a colour sensor, a 6-way gyroscope, an LED screen, and a speaker. Mindstorms also has a free Robot Inventor app that uses text blocks for coding.
Another option to consider is Lego Spike Prime, which sits between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms in terms of complexity and pricing. Spike Prime is designed for middle school students and provides a programming environment similar to Scratch 3.0.
For those on a tighter budget, it might be worth looking for used EV3 kits or keeping an eye out for deals on the required components.
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Programming languages
LEGO WeDo 2.0 is a robotics kit designed to give an entry into coding and robotics skills, using the familiar LEGO pieces. It is suitable for preschoolers and lower primary students, and can also be used to learn both robot and Scratch programming. WeDo 2.0 is compatible with all standard LEGO and LEGO Technic bricks, but not with the sensors, motors or hubs from other LEGO kits, including Power Functions, Mindstorms, Boost or Spike.
LEGO Mindstorms is a more advanced system, suited to older kids (11+) and is a bit pricier. It is a discontinued line of educational kits for building programmable robots based on LEGO bricks. Mindstorms kits allow users to build creations that interact with the physical world. All kits consist of a selection of LEGO Elements, a "Smart Brick" (programmable brick or "pbrick"), attachments for the smart brick (such as motors and sensors), and programming software. Mindstorms was originally launched as a tool to support educational constructivism, but it has become the first home robotics kit available to a wide audience, including adults and hackers.
Mindstorms uses a visual programming language inspired by the LOGOBlocks language, which was previously used with programmable brick experiments. It can also be programmed using a text-based programming language such as RobotC, or MicroPython as an extension module in Visual Studio Code.
Spike Prime is another option, which is the educational version of Mindstorms. It is an intermediate version between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms, with software based on Scratch and is suitable for primary school students.
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Home automation
Lego WeDo 2.0 is a great entry point for younger kids to learn about coding and robotics. It is designed for children aged 6-10 and offers simple, motorised, and codable models. The kit is compatible with standard Lego and Lego Technic bricks, making it easy to add extra features and get creative. The WeDo 2.0 can be connected to Scratch 3.0, enhancing its programming capabilities and allowing for conditional judgement, variable creation, and custom music.
Lego Mindstorms EV3 is a more advanced system suited for older kids, around age 11+. It comes with more features, including four motors, a distance sensor, and a colour sensor, as well as a 6-way gyroscope, LED screen, and a speaker. The kit uses text blocks for coding, which are similar to Scratch and MakeCode. Mindstorms is more expensive than WeDo, but offers more capabilities and is a great option for those who want to take their robotics skills to the next level.
For those looking for an intermediate option, Lego Spike Prime fills the gap between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms EV3. It was released in 2020 and is aimed at primary and middle school students. Spike Prime offers a programming environment similar to Scratch 3.0, with clear function categories.
When deciding between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms EV3, it is important to consider the age and skill level of the user. WeDo 2.0 is perfect for beginners and younger children, while Mindstorms EV3 is more complex and suited for older kids with more advanced skills. Additionally, the price point is a factor, with Mindstorms being more expensive.
Overall, both WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms EV3 offer great options for home automation projects, catering to different age groups and skill levels.
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Replay value
When it comes to replay value, there are a few factors to consider when deciding between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms. Firstly, Mindstorms is aimed at older children with a recommended age of 10+, whereas WeDo 2.0 is suitable for younger children, even those in preschool and lower primary school grades. This means that Mindstorms may offer more replay value as children can continue to use it as they get older, whereas WeDo 2.0 may be outgrown more quickly.
Secondly, Mindstorms offers more advanced features and capabilities compared to WeDo 2.0. Mindstorms allows for more complex builds and programming, making it a good choice for children who are really into technical LEGO and robotics. WeDo 2.0, on the other hand, is designed for STEM education and may be more limited in terms of replay value as children may eventually outgrow its capabilities.
Thirdly, cost may be a factor in replay value as more expensive sets may offer more features and durability. Mindstorms is more expensive than WeDo 2.0, which makes it less accessible to some families. However, the higher cost may be justified by the increased replay value offered by Mindstorms.
Additionally, it is worth considering the programming languages supported by each platform. WeDo 2.0 can be connected to Scratch 3.0, enhancing its programming capabilities and allowing for more complex projects. Mindstorms also supports Scratch but can also be programmed using Python, making it a good choice for children who want to learn a text-based programming language.
Finally, it is worth noting that both WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms have different versions and alternatives that may offer even more replay value. For example, Spike Prime is an intermediate option between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms, offering more lesson units and pieces, which can increase its replay value. There is also LEGO Boost, which is less expensive than both WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms and may appeal to a wider range of children.
In conclusion, when considering replay value, both WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms have their strengths and weaknesses. WeDo 2.0 may be more suitable for younger children just starting to explore robotics, whereas Mindstorms may offer more replay value for older children who are more technically inclined and have the necessary budget. Additionally, alternatives such as Spike Prime and LEGO Boost may also be worth considering for their unique features and cost-effectiveness.
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Frequently asked questions
WeDo 2.0 is a cheaper option, intended for younger children, and can be used with Scratch 3.0 to add conditional judgement, create and use variables, and customise music. Mindstorms is more complex and intended for older children, and can be programmed using MicroPython, which is recommended for middle school students.
Mindstorms is a better option for home automation projects, as it can be programmed using MicroPython, which allows for more advanced functionality.
Some alternative products include Spike Prime, Boost, and Spike Essential. Spike Prime is an intermediate option between WeDo 2.0 and Mindstorms, and is recommended for middle school students. Boost is another option, but if you already have the 31313 set, there is no need to purchase it as it is a step down from the previous generation. Spike Essential is intended for younger children but may be outgrown quickly due to its limited number of gears and ports.
