Get Started with a GO Classroom Bundle – VEX Library

When you get your VEX GO Classroom Bundle, there are a few things you can do to get yourself organized and started. This article will cover the basics of unpacking your Classroom Bundle and getting ready to use VEX GO with your students.

Get Organized

Flowchart illustrating the next steps in the GO category, outlining key actions and decisions for users to follow for optimal results.

Your VEX GO Classroom Bundle comes with all of the Kit pieces presorted and organized into each Kit with Storage, saving you the time and energy of sorting and organizing them all yourself. There are a few other components that are included in your Classroom Bundle that you may want to set up.

Sort and Label your Classroom Bundle Storage Bags - the Storage Bags are designed to hold all of the components of the Classroom Bundle, making them easy to store and transport, to support teachers in a variety of learning environments. The VEX GO Storage Bags all contain a clear pocket on the outside that can be used to label the bags with the classroom or teacher’s name, and/or what is inside the bag (ex: Ms. Smith - Field Tiles).

Diagram illustrating the next steps for users in the 'GO' category, featuring a flowchart with labeled arrows and icons guiding the user through the process.

Label Your Kits - it’s a good idea to label the boxes of each Kit (Kit 1, Kit 2, etc.) so that they stay together when students are using them. VEX recommends a ratio of two students per Kit. If you are using the Kits with one class, you may want to label them with student names, or if the Kits will be used by multiple classes, you may want to label them more generally.

Label Your Brains - once you have labeled each Kit, take a moment to label the VEX GO Brain from that Kit with the same name. With a sticker label or piece of tape and a marker, you can mark the name of each Brain clearly. This will help students when they need to connect their VEX GO Brain to their devices.

You will be able to rename the Brains using the VEX Classroom App, so you can choose any names you like, or use student names if you know the groupings that you will be assigning. (Read on to learn more about the VEX Classroom App).

Store or Set Up Your Field - each Classroom Bundle includes Field Tiles and Walls that can be snapped together to create a consistent space on which to test your VEX GO robots and VEXcode GO projects. The Field Tiles can be arranged and rearranged to create a variety of different ‘robot playgrounds.’ In thinking about how you will organize your classroom space to use VEX GO with your students, you may choose to set up a field as part of a Learning Center, or to store all of the Field Tiles and Walls for later use as part of a STEM Lab. Some examples of GO Field variations that can be made with the VEX GO Classroom Bundle include:

Diagram illustrating the next steps in the GO category, featuring key actions and processes for users to follow, with labeled sections for clarity.

Square

Flowchart illustrating the next steps for users in the GO category, outlining the process and decision points for effective navigation and action.

Racetrack

Diagram illustrating the next steps in the GO category, featuring key actions and processes for users to follow, including visual indicators and labeled sections for clarity.

Zig Zag Turn

Diagram illustrating the next steps in the GO category, featuring labeled sections and arrows guiding users through the process.

The 'U' Turn

Charge Your Batteries

Flowchart illustrating the next steps in the GO category process, featuring decision points and actions to guide users through the workflow.

Each Classroom Bundle contains a VEX GO Battery Charging Hub. This enables you to charge all of your Batteries at one time. You should begin by charging all of your Batteries so that they are ready for use. Read the Using the VEX GO Battery VEX Library article as a guide for how to charge your Battery and to learn what the different indicator lights mean.

Using VEXcode GO

Diagram illustrating the next steps in the GO category, featuring flowcharts and key actions to guide users through the process.

Lastly, you will need to access VEXcode GO, the block based coding interface used with VEX GO, and the VEX Classroom App. VEXcode GO can be downloaded and installed on a device, or run through a browser.

To install VEXcode GO, or access the browser link, visit code.vex.com and select 'Download.'

Then, select the button that matches your device, (or the browser option), and download the app onto your device.

Note: VEXcode GO is the interface that students will use to code their VEX GO robots, so it will need to be installed, or able to be accessed via the browser, on each of the student devices that will be used with VEX GO in your classroom.

Download the VEX Classroom App

Flowchart illustrating the next steps in the GO category, outlining key actions and decision points for users to follow after completing initial tasks.

To install the VEX Classroom App, visit the App Store on your device, and search for ‘VEX Classroom.’ Download the VEX Classroom App.

Note: The VEX Classroom App is ONLY for teacher use, so it can be installed on only the teacher’s device or smartphone.

For more information about the features of the VEX Classroom App and how to use it, see the Using the VEX Classroom App VEX Library article.