LEGO Education Computer Science & AI
What you’ll learn
- What the LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kit is
- Who it’s for and what it costs
- How to decide between it, existing SPIKE kits and Arduino
The kit
LEGO Education announced Computer Science & AI in January 2026 as the successor to SPIKE, and it began shipping in April 2026. It comes in three age bands (5+, 8+ and 11+) and is priced for schools, from about $339.95 in the US (prices vary by country and seller).
As the name says, its focus is computer science and AI concepts, taught with LEGO building.
Choosing
| Situation | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| School already has SPIKE kits | Keep using them (supported to 2031); trial the new kit alongside |
| New school programme for younger students | LEGO CS & AI, or micro:bit kits on a smaller budget |
| Home learner on a budget | Arduino kit, or start free with the simulators |
| FIRST LEGO League team | Check the current season’s rules for allowed hardware |
Example: a budget comparison for one class (8 kits)
| Option | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| LEGO CS & AI (8 kits) | 8 × |
| micro:bit robot kits (8) | 8 × |
| Arduino robot car kits (8) | 8 × |
Each option teaches the same core ideas; they differ in build speed, age suitability and how much electronics students see.
Match the bandEasy
Which age band would you choose for a class of 9-year-olds? The 8+ band.
Make the caseMedium
Write a short recommendation for your school: buy the new LEGO kit, keep SPIKE, or switch to Arduino? Give two reasons.
Same lesson, three platformsHard
Plan one “robot avoids walls” lesson that works on LEGO, Arduino and the RoboLearn simulator. What stays the same, and what changes? Same: sense distance, decide with if/else, drive or turn. Changes: how sensors and motors are connected and the coding environment (blocks vs C++ vs JavaScript).
Quick check
Finished this lesson?