SAM Labs Product Overview
SAM Labs is a comprehensive educational platform designed to integrate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education into various learning environments, including classrooms, learning labs, makerspaces, and after-school clubs. Here’s a detailed look at what SAM Labs offers and its key features:
What SAM Labs Does
SAM Labs provides a range of products and tools that enable hands-on, interactive learning experiences. The platform combines physical kits, software tools, and user-friendly online platforms to make STEAM education engaging and creative. It is designed to support teachers in delivering inspiring and practical learning experiences that promote problem-solving, innovation, and the development of 21st-century skills.
Key Features and Functionality
Hardware and Software Integration
SAM Labs uses wireless, rechargeable hardware blocks that connect to students’ devices via Bluetooth. These blocks allow students to build complex systems and circuits without the constraints of wired connections. The hardware is complemented by two primary coding interfaces: SAM Space and SAM Blockly, which are accessible across all major devices and operating systems.
Lesson Builder and Curriculum
The platform includes a robust Lesson Builder tool that allows teachers to design interactive lessons directly within the coding platform. This tool features grading and feedback capabilities, multiple-choice and open-ended questions, and video embedding. Teachers can also access a Content Hub with Google, PDF, and asynchronous versions of lessons, as well as formative and summative assessment packs for STEAM and coding courses.
SAM Studio
SAM Studio is an all-in-one web-based platform that enhances and replaces previous tools like SAM Space and Google Workbench. It integrates with Google Drive and Google Classroom, allowing teachers to assign projects and receive student submissions directly. This integration enables seamless feedback, editing, and grading of student code within Google Classroom.
Hands-On Learning
SAM Labs emphasizes hands-on learning, providing STEAM and STEM kits for classrooms that combine critical computational thinking and computer science skills with effective hands-on learning opportunities. Students can prototype solutions to real-world problems, and the modular nature of the hardware allows for flexibility in project building.
Teacher Support and Training
The platform is designed to be accessible for teachers of all technical backgrounds. SAM Labs offers in-depth training and support, including live and asynchronous professional development courses and certification options. The visual nature of the coding interface makes it easy for teachers to understand and implement, even without prior coding experience.
Student Benefits
Students benefit from high engagement levels due to the hands-on nature of the learning experiences. The platform helps students retain more information, introduces them to computer science and coding standards, and hones their 21st-century skills. The flow-based coding approach is particularly accessible for students who may struggle with text-based coding, including English language learners.
Scalability and Flexibility
SAM Labs solutions are scalable, allowing schools to use the same hardware and coding platform from kindergarten to 8th grade. The lessons are designed to increase in complexity as students progress, making it easy to adapt to individual student comfort levels and learning environments.
In summary, SAM Labs offers a holistic STEAM education solution that combines innovative hardware, user-friendly software, and comprehensive curriculum support to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students, while providing robust tools and training for teachers.
