Not finding the answer to your question? Email info@wizbots.com and we will be happy to help.

What is the difference between Wizbots and a “LEGO Robotics” class?

Creativity! Creativity! Creativity! Like any high quality robotics program for kids, we provide programming tools, motors, sensors, and technical building components (e.g. gears, pulleys, beams etc). However, Wizbots is all about fostering creativity and innovation, and is fundamentally a design program. In our view, learning the creative problem-solving skills involved in design are more valuable than learning how to make a motor spin. With this in mind, we provide a much wider range of building materials to work with, more creative freedom, and a diversity of projects and activities, to continuously engage and expand the interests and imagination of the kids.

Is every week of our Imagineering Summer Camp the same?

Yes and no! Wizbots has a unique and in-depth project-based curriculum we call the "Path to Mastery". Because our programs run year-round, students can join in at any time to begin and then continue their progress along this path. Students work at their own pace, are always doing new projects, and earn Wizbands (similar to karate belts) as they achieve advancement to new levels. So week to week during the summer, campers are always doing something new to move forward and engage their inventive minds! Learn more about our progressive curriculum.

My child is younger than the indicated grade level for an after school program, can he/she still take the class?

Wizbots programs are offered to kids in 2nd grade and up. However, we've found that kids usually need to be at least 7 and/or in 3rd grade (1) to be able to handle the collaboration that is required in our Lab (as kids work in pairs and learn all about working together to iteratively design and implement a project), (2) to have the fine motor skills required to work with some tiny equipment, and (3) have the ability to tackle real computer programming tasks. In addition, we have entered into agreements with each of our schools such that a set group of grade levels have the ability to enroll in our program and work together. Our classes are very small - typically 10 students - so only a few students are able to enroll and, because they work in pairs, they need to be able to work with other students their same age. To find out more, email info@wizbots.com

My child will be on the young end for your summer camp. Will he/she fit in?

Our summer camps allow more flexibility than our after school programs. They allow larger groups of kids, and we have multiple instructors who can break kids into different age groups. All the projects we do in camp allow for scale to the levels of each individual student. In particular, younger kids will be building more than doing advanced programming or mechanisms, and will have a lot of different materials to create with. As far as partnering goes, we cannot guarantee pairings. However, if we cannot pair your child up with another camper the same age and/or ability level, and your child is not happy with the arrangement once it's been tried, we will refund the remaining days of camp.

What benefits does my child obtain from coming to Wizbots weekly classes?

Our primary objective is to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering and math, within the framework of empowering kids to innovate. More concretely, we teach the kids goal-setting, brainstorming, how to evaluate design choices, rapid-prototyping, the importance of testing your ideas and critical evaluation. We also teach structures, mechanisms, and programming. Discussions and concepts in science - especially physics - come up all the time as kids struggle to make a moving object do their bidding in the physical world. Maths also comes up, especially in the context of programming where logic, number types, units of measure, arithmetic, and functions become important. Wizbots is not a place where we lecture the kids from the front of the class. It is a demand driven approach where we focus on getting kids to ask good questions, and think about problems. It is the job of our skilled mentors to encourage this, and be ready with the right nuggets of knowledge and skill when the opportunity arises. Of course we get the kids started with tutorials as we introduce new material!

Secondary benefits relate to social interaction with kids of shared interests. Wizbots is very collaborative, with pairs working together, class-level discussions and games. This is helpful to build confidence, communication skills and friendships.

Is Wizbots suitable for girls?

Definitely! People often think robotics is a boy thing. But design is universal, and robotics is really just a (superb) vehicle for creativity and problem solving. Anyway, generalizations are dangerous. We specifically include a diversity of colorful materials, drawn from arts and crafts supplies, to allow for a greater range of project types that often appeal more to girls. We provide activities that emphasize collaboration, communication, and out of the box thinking. The results are amazing for boys and girls alike. To encourage participation by girls, we regularly provide Girl's only events which are a great way to test the waters.

My child has experience with robotics. Will your program still be challenging?

Absolutely! Our curriculum levels stretch from Novice to Master. We get into advanced mechanisms including gear-trains and linkages. We also allow advanced programming including multi-level conditional logic, loops, parallel programming, and functions. We have sensors available that go beyond the standard LEGO Mindstorm gear, including programming robots to respond to signals from a PlayStation controller, using gyroscopes, and accelerometers. More importantly, our program admits huge diversity of projects which require kids to integrate all they know to design something themselves to either serve a function (like a product), complete a challenge, or compete in a game. Because the real-world can be very challenging, it is very easy to find ways to engage and challenge even the most advanced kids. Finally, our program does not follow a set path for the whole class. It is designed to allow for a multi-level, multi-age lab environment, and we do this all year round.

Is Wizbots at My School?

Check out our programs to find out if there is a program already at your school or planned. It is an easily searchable database of all our current locations and scheduled programs.

How can I get Wizbots at our School?

Wizbots is expanding throughout the Bay Area. If we are not at your school, and you would like us to be, email info@wizbots.com and we will follow up with you to make it happen.

Is this a Drop Off class?

Yes, Wizbots classes are meant for parents to drop off their kids. In general, parents do not stay during class but often will be invited to attend to review presentations and work of the kids.

If my child is absent for a day or two, is that a problem?

Not at all. Of course, they will miss out on fun creation time, but there is no particular instruction that a student will miss because our teaching style is "just-in-time" - explaining new concepts as each student needs it. We always have students within a Lab working on different projects and working at different levels. Students can just jump right back in when they return.

Can I have a Wizbot’s Birthday Party for my child?

We will do Birthday parties by request. To find out more, email info@wizbots.com and we will follow up with you to make it happen.

What is your refund/cancellation policy?

Programs may be canceled by Wizbots if a minimum enrollment has not been achieved. In the event a program is cancelled, all enrollment fees will be returned. If a family wishes to cancel an enrollment before a program begins, a cancellation fee of 25% will be charged, and the remaining fees returned. If a family wishes to cancel a program after it has started, a cancellation fee of 25% of the remaining days will be charged, and the fees for the remaining days returned. We are sorry, but there are no refunds given for Summer Camps within 3 weeks of the start of a camp.

Can I change a summer camp registration to a different week without penalty?

Absolutely. As long as there is still space in the particular camp of interest, you can switch one week's registration to the other week without any penalty.

How do I see my child’s vidoes?

If your child ever has a project uploaded to our Wonderwall, you will automatically receive an email notification with a link to the project. To see all of the videos collectively, simply visit the Wonderwall page of our website. Make sure you are logged in to our website and you will be able to see all of your child’s videos that are private to you, plus any videos that have been shared with the public. If there are many, simply use the search box. You will also be able to share your videos with family and friends!