Great application tool, poor durability

How I Use It

I teach programming/robotics to fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-graders. We use the Spheros to apply the programming concepts we learn through code.org. We use a few of the activities already uploaded on edu.sphero.com to learn about how the Spheros work and what they can do, and then we take that information and work to program the Spheros through mazes. At first, they worked very well, but over a few months time dirt got into them and affected how the wheels and gears functioned, and 8/12 stopped holding a charge--5/12 arrived that way, and another three had to be replaced by March (purchased in September). One also cracked along the seam.