Kano’s First-of-its-Kind Wand and ‘Harry Potter’ Coding Kit!

As previously announced by Leaky, Kano Computing will release a Harry Potter coding kit next month, teaching users code whilst also allowing them to live out their dreams of learning how to cast spells with a fully immersive wand, powered by tech! We were lucky enough to talk to the team behind the kit at Kano HQ, test out the wand and a few of the coding features, and find out more about this unique experience for Potter fans. Read on to find out more about the graphics, levels, technology and lessons offered in the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit!

The sheer amount of research and preparation put into this project was outstanding to see – huge amounts of care and attention has been dedicated to ensuring this is the most enjoyable and educational experience for all users, all fans, and all ages. After correspondence with Warner Bros, the Neil Blair Partnership and even MinaLima, Kano have created something truly unique: the very first Harry Potter STEM Kit. The spells, music and graphics are officially approved and you’ll see that they take a huge amount of inspiration from the films, but the simple and colorful graphic style adds a unique, quirky touch to Potter:

“We wanted people to also know that this is Kano, and really make something unique to us, whilst also making it familiar to fans”

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The Promise (and Pitfalls) of AI for Education

Artificial intelligence could have a profound impact on learning, but it also raises key questions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are no longer fantastical prospects seen only in science fiction. Products like Amazon Echo and Siri have brought AI into many homes, and experts say it’s only a matter of time before the technology has a profound impact in education, as well.

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Girls and Boys Perform Equally in STEM, New Study Finds

A new study has found that girls and boys perform very similarly in STEM, including those at the top of the class.

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The analysis, led by UNSW Sydney PhD student Rose O’Dea and published in prestigious journal Nature Communications, explored patterns in the academic grades of 1.6 million students.

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100-year-old mining tech used to recycle lithium-ion batteries

As the electric vehicle market grows and batteries reach the end of their 10-year lifespan, the world is set to face another recycling crisis. A team of chemical engineering students in the US might have found a solution.

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iWorld Australia releases Two New Robotic STEM Products from Robobloq

Melbourne, Australia – October 17, 2018 – iWorld Australia in partnership with Robobloq have launched two new STEM products from Robobloq, the Q-Elephant Robot Kit and the Q-Dino Robot Kit. The kits will be available in Australia and New Zealand at selected retail locations, online and education resellers.

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littleBits Avenger Hero Inventor Kit Review: Build your own superhero

I’ve got the luckiest kids in the world – some cool things come to our office for them to see before things even hit the stores.  Sometimes, they are goodies for kids – the coolest and latest toys and gadgets.

The littleBits Avengers Hero Inventor Kit is one such item.  It’s been sitting in the office ready for the kids for aa few weeks – then finally School Holidays were upon us so a morning project had to be putting together this super-hero arm.

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New scholarships for STEM-smart Sydney students

In Sydney’s south-west, members of the Macarthur Astronomical Society – some retired professional astronomers, others keen amateurs – mentor school students, passing on a love of the night sky to future stargazers.

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STEM scholarships for regional students

Rural and regional Australians are being encouraged to study science, technology, engineering and maths, with scholarships of up to $18,000 on offer.

More than 1200 rural and regional Australians will be granted scholarships of up to $18,000 to study science, technology, engineering and maths.

The federal government is calling on hopefuls to apply for the $24 million scholarship program, to help support the cost of university and vocational education and training.

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Kano battles “throwaway culture of electronics” by teaching kids how to take apart their tech

Slimmer, lighter devices are the goal for most technology companies, but not Kano. In this interview, the designers behind the pioneering STEM toy company make their case for tech products that can be easily disassembled.

“As technology is getting more advanced, laptops for example, they’re getting way slimmer, more portable,” Kano lead product designer Bruno Schillinger told Dezeen. “That’s great for usability, but new machines are becoming increasingly hard to prise open.”

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REVIEW: Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit

The Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit released this month, and Leaky were lucky enough to review the kit in its entirety, which contains a first-of-its-kind motion sensor wand, helping you learn how to code whilst completing Potter-themed challenges!

I was super impressed with the kit overall, with highlights being the art style throughout the game, the number of spells available to use, and the manner in which the kit builds up knowledge of coding naturally, making it feel as though you’re playing a game, but also offering ways to explore your creativity and skill further in the ‘Kano Play’ free-play environment and share your creations in the collaborative ‘Kano World’ network.

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