What is Marty The Robot V2?
Robotical has updated their much loved Marty the Robot with a more robust, classroom-friendly humanoid robot that can withstand even the most enthusiastic handling!
Marty the Robot V2 is a walking, dancing, eyebrow-wiggling robot designed to inspire the next generation of roboticists and engineers. Students can program Marty using ScratchJr, Scratch or real-world, text based coding language, Python. What's more, Marty comes with extensive teaching resources, including lesson plans and classroom-ready presentations.
Marty the Robot V2 also has a screen-free option for younger pupils. Using our colour coding cards, get your students up to speed with some foundation programming elements such as sequencing and computational thinking.
Learn all about robotics with a number of sophisticated sensors and other add-ons.
Learning comes alive with Marty in the classroom!
Educational Impact
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Marty The Robot V2 Reviews
from 12 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Jan 2022
It is expandable and almost limitless in its application. It’s accessible at all levels through the primary school.
Tom found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students must discuss before they code its moves.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“Had to learn the coding platform but that was straightforward.”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“We have used it as a well-being treat as it is very popular with the students.”
- Slightly improves attainment“Yet to be seen. It fulfills coding requirements in the curriculum.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“The children must learn to code it for it to move. It’s very rewarding for them when they get it right!”
Louise Thompson
Principal Teacher
Used Marty The Robot V2 weekly for 0–3 months
Dec 2021
It was fantastic.
Louise Thompson found Marty The Robot V2:
- Moderately increases student collaboration“class loved the challenges of working together to send Marty on a mission or get Marty to a destination.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Teachers who are very unfamiliar with some of the language of coding became much less so through the training with Marty.”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“No real evidence of this during sessions.”
- Moderately improves attainment“Fun and engaging way to learn how to code using a new format.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Extends tech knowledge.”
Mr N Gray
Computing Coordinator
Used Marty The Robot V2 occasionally for 0–3 months
Dec 2021
It is an excellent resource which is very motivating and provides lots of opportunities to further children's understanding in computing. I only gave it an 8 because we didn't get to try all the extra add on bits which provide more functionality and provide more opportunities - I wonder if it has longevity past the initial excitement without these. Also to really maximize its use, it needs to be incorporated into the lessons we already deliver as part of computing and it isn't a straight forward fit.
Mr N Gray found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students work together to solve problems, suggesting ideas and trying solutions. For example, we set up an obstacle course to direct Marty through using the controller, children supported each other in counting how many steps it was and when to turn to avoid the obstacles.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“understanding of sensors and how to program them”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Using the robot really focuses children as they are every keen to get their code to run”
- Slightly improves attainment“I haven't really had long enough to test this. But, it is definitely motivating which should lead to increased attainment”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Understanding that computers are just machines. Seeing the real impact of the code they create on a physical device and being able to write, debug and run programs”
Shannon McAllister
Principal Teacher
Used Marty The Robot V2 weekly for 0–3 months
Nov 2021
All of the students have been engaged and enthusiastic about their learning when using Marty. It is great to use across all stages in the school and the online resources are very helpful for staff to build their confidence when first using Marty.
Shannon McAllister found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Pupils working together to solve problems using their creativity skills”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“The website has several resources, guides and lesson plans which are very useful for staff knowledge and confidence when using the device in their classroom.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Children are all engaged and enthusiastic about their learning when using Marty this has a positive impact on behaviour. There are lots of different ways to use Marty in the classroom across the curriculum which means it can be used to support or challenge learners.”
- Moderately improves attainment“Developing problem solving skills across all stages, using a variety of Meta Skills and understanding of computer science and technology.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge
Sherie Moran
Teacher
Used Marty The Robot V2 weekly for 0–3 months
Nov 2021
You do ask a lot of questions! I think Marty is good for kids because anything that attracts kids to robots is a good thing. If it gets more students in the field of robotics, then mission accomplished.
Sherie Moran found Marty The Robot V2:
- Moderately increases student collaboration“Love to take Marty out of the box in a room that hasn't seen him yet. Even at the high school level, I pull out the unplugged cards and start laying them out on the table. Before you know it, one and then two come over and ask if they can do it as more get engaged in spite of themselves. They want to drive him with the app and take control of it themselves.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“While I have quite a bit of background in VEX robotics, Marty attracts the girls because he is so cute and when they realize it isn't that hard to "program" him with the cards, that they can use their phones to drive him around, they are ready to give it a try. I've been looking for a way to get more girls in my robotics club and this may be my ticket! :)”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“I don't withhold robots for bad behavior. Playing with robots is good learning so as long as the behavior isn't destructive to the robots or the gaming elements, I may assign MORE lessons using the robots. My thinking is that bad behavior is best rewarded by keeping them even more busy with learning about robots.”
- Moderately improves attainment“Students are motivated to control Marty's movements and once they realize that it takes coding to do that, then the start out wanting the basics, front, back, slide, eyebrow wriggle...then they are encouraged to get him to do more things.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“See previous comment.”
Allen Tsui
Computer Science Lead
Used Marty The Robot V2 daily for 0–3 months
Nov 2021
It is just such a fantastic product. So easy to use straight out of the box and ready to introduce learners as young as aged 4 the concepts of computational thinking and coding. The Scratch like apps are brilliant too.
Allen Tsui found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly increases student collaboration“The children I demonstrated Marty to absolutely loved using Marty and curious to understand and learn how the coloured postcards worked. It was so easy to introduce children as young as aged 4 to the computational thinking skills that they need to become confident digital citizens of the future. The children wanted to work together to create different patterns for Marty to follow.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“The direct links to the way Marty's app works like Scratch was a wonderful way of demonstrating to colleagues less familiar with block coding of its potential.”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Every learner that got to work with Marty from Reception (aged 4) to those in Year 6 (aged 11) were so engaged with working with Marty, there were never any issues with behaviour in the coding and robotics lessons.”
- Significantly improves attainment“Quite simply it enables learners from as young as aged 4 to achieve learning goals that are two years above their age related expectations. Specifically, children in Year 2 were learning to use terms like "quarter turn clockwise" when such terminology would usually be taught in Maths in Year 4.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“As a product, Marty has the potential to reach parts of the curriclulum others only dream of. So many opportunities for making a cross curricular impact on student or learner knowledge.”
Katie Fleetwood
Teacher
Used Marty The Robot V2 occasionally for 0–3 months
Oct 2021
The process of trialling Marty, the calls with Ben to explain Marty's functionality and applications across stages of the school and the broader curriculum and the general customer service provided by Ben and the wider Robotical team has been exceptional. I would be very likely to recommend Marty to a colleague or friend who had no budget limitations to work within. We are fortunate that we have been able to make some of our budget available, but this may not always be an option for other establishments.
Katie Fleetwood found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Marty promotes student collaboration through paired and group work. In order to design and code Marty effectively, students need to discuss, negotiate and agree upon their goals and outcomes.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“As a teacher with a less secure knowledge of coding, it is incredibly beneficial to have something concrete (including coloured cards) to experiment and troubleshoot with before delivering a lesson.”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Marty is a highly engaging resource. Because of this, students are very motivated during lessons that include him and enjoy the opportunity to work together towards a shared goal.”
- Slightly improves attainment
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Marty provides a great introduction to coding and digital language for children at First Level, and is a great way of extending older children's knowledge. The fact that it can be used with applications like Scratch gives children's a real world sense of their learning.”
Seema
Head of Digital Learning
Used Marty The Robot V2 daily for 0–3 months
Oct 2021
The sets are very easy to connect with any device. It is proven that students are not able to break Marty. Marty can be used with a number of topics e.g. green screen, robotics, coding in scratch.
Seema found Marty The Robot V2:
- Moderately increases student collaboration“Getting students to work together as a Team. Planning, development, implementation and evaluation.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“Using sensors to code!”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Slightly improves attainment
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Using scratch the code Marty for the older students and making use of the coloured cards for the younger students.”
Jamie Smith
Acting Principal Teacher
Used Marty The Robot V2 occasionally for 4-6 months
Sep 2021
Very engaging resource but can be very costly for schools, where ideally you would have a few.
Jamie Smith found Marty The Robot V2:
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Engaging children that learn in different ways.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Children are able to work in groups to code and solve problems.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“Coding is an area which we are looking to develop as a school. Marty is an easy to use resource, which teachers who may lack confidence can use without too much input.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Children are more engaged and motivated.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Helps to build pupil knowledge of coding.”
Learning Assistant
Learning Assistant
Used Marty The Robot V2 daily for 0–3 months
Aug 2021
Truly amazing, fun way to teach our pupils , highly recommended.
Learning Assistant found Marty The Robot V2:
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“working together on joint goal/ outcome bring unity”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“As it is a new and interesting subject there is more interest in the sunject matter thus more collaboration”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“a new way to transfer information”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“behaviour is improved with the subject matter being something they think is fun and exciting”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“The pupils have not had the chance to do anything like this before.”
Volker Altstädt
Professor
Used Marty The Robot V2 occasionally for 1-2 years
Aug 2021
funny and educating
Volker Altstädt found Marty The Robot V2:
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“practical demonstration”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“practica”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“understanding how it worls”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“no idea”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“lecture demonstration”
Kevin Kearney
Principal Teacher (Additional Support Needs)
Used Marty V2 for 4-6 months
Apr 2021
Children from primary 1 to primary 7 have really engaged with using Marty to learn about coding. Marty provides a real life and physical context that children can experience while learning code as opposed to coding a sprite on a screen. Working within an additional support needs setting, I have experienced changes in behaviour, communication skills and social skills particularly with children with autism who treat Marty as a friend they can trust and look after.
Kevin Kearney found Marty V2:
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Marty helps children develop their developing code in a progressive and constructive way. Children are able to build on existing knowledge and experiences to create new or experimental code. Using Marty allows them to see the results of their work and problem solve any bugs that may occur.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Children frequently discuss the best coding blocks to use and provide reasons for their suggestions. More able children are able to justify their choices to their peers allowing others to develop their own knowledge of coding.”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“Giving children access to opportunities to code with Marty at school may increase experiences of this in certain schools. More research over a longer time period would be required to support any impact on the attainment gap”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Children have generally been very engaged when using Marty and look forward to lessons involving Marty. I have used Marty as communication support with children who have poor or limited language skills. Children are more comfortable telling Marty about what is upsetting them with an adult controlling simple responses to pretend Marty is listening. We have used this very successfully to calm and distract children who are distressed.”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Personally, I will try out the code provided with the lesson plans to make sure I understand how it all works and what bugs/problems the children are likely to encounter. Other teachers have reported taking a similar approach. This has increased my own knowledge of coding and the reasoning behind using particular pieces of code.”