Whether you’re new to VEX PD+ or a seasoned educator, this thread keeps you updated on the latest developments, resources, and opportunities throughout the year.
Every two weeks, I’ll share new content, features, and insights from our team. Have ideas for future content? We’d love to hear them!
Looking for past updates? Check out the 2024 PLC thread
Make the Most of Your PD+ All-Access Experience:
VEX Robotics Educators Conference – Your All-Access PD+ subscription includes conference registration - held during VEX Worlds (exact date tbd) in St. Louis for 2026
To revisit keynotes and presentations, head to the PD+ Video Library; select platform as: “Keynotes”
Book a 1-on-1 Session – These personalized sessions help answer your questions, brainstorm for your setting, and explore ways to implement VEX effectively.
Join the VEX Professional Learning Community (PLC) - These are your people! You can ask a trouble shooting question, you can share your latest classroom success story - this is a supportive community.
Explore Insights – Short, bi-monthly readings designed to provide inspiration and practical knowledge.
VEX Library in 25 Languages – Your go-to resource with hundreds of articles covering all things VEX.
Your Feedback Matters! – Share your experience, ask questions, or suggest new topics. Your input helps shape the future of VEX PD+.
Stay tuned for all the updates throughout 2025!
Let’s Go! 
August 15, 2025
Back-to-School Releases, New APIs, and Expanded Resources
VEXcode 4.6 & API Updates: VEXcode API reference updated with new math operator and string manipulation blocks. Added AI Vision Sensor API for IQ 2nd Gen.
- New Features in VEXcode 4.60
- Wirelessly Connecting an IQ (2nd gen) Brain to VEXcode IQ
- Using the Navigation Kit in a VEXcode VR Playground
- An Introduction to Dex: The V5RC Push Back Hero Bot
V5RC Competition 101 STEM Labs
- Implementing a Competition 101 STEM Lab
- Cultivating a Positive Team Culture
- Making Competition 101 STEM Labs Work for All Students
VIQRC Competition 101 STEM Labs
- Strategies for Introducing a VIQRC Game
- Implementing a Competition 101 STEM Lab
- Cultivating a Positive Team Culture
- Making Competition 101 STEM Labs Work for All Students
Insights Articles:
Back to School Tune Up: Preparing Your Kits
VEX AIM at Work: Engaging Learners and Innovators Around the World
August 01, 2025
New Resources in STEM Labs, AIM, and Accessibility
Competition 101: VIQCR Mix And Match STEM Lab: The IQ version is now live, complementing the V5RC version. These labs guide students and coaches through team formation, goal setting, data collection, strategy development, and preparing for their first competition. Coach notes have been expanded for younger IQ students. Parent letters now include waiver reminders based on RECF feedback.
Supporting Library Articles: New tactical guides explain how to set up fields, access coach notes, and adapt labs for different age groups. Articles also focus on team culture and differentiation. See them here:
- Strategies for Introducing a VIQRC Game
- Implementing a Competition 101 STEM Lab
- Cultivating a Positive Team Culture
- Making Competition 101 STEM Labs Work for All Students
AIM Activities: Four new AIM activities are published—now every unit includes supplemental or advanced activities.
Insights Article: Bring AI Literacy to Your K-5 Students with VEX 123 and VEX GO: New article clarifies AI literacy—exploring how young students build foundational understanding of perception, sensors, and interaction with the world before progressing to advanced AI.
Translations & Accessibility: The VEX AIM Intro Course and Competition 101: V5RC Push Back STEM Lab are now translated into seven languages (Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Thai, Portuguese). All courses now include descriptive audio and transcripts, meeting WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
VEXcode Updates:
- High contrast app icons released across all platforms.
- Consolidated math and comparison blocks with new range options, decluttering the toolbox.
- VEXcode help now directly links to api.vex.com.
July 18, 2025
V5 Competition STEM Lab is Now Live!
The first-ever STEM Lab for VEX V5 Competition (Push Back) is officially here. This lab helps coaches and students walk through the game, build Dex, set team goals, and reflect on their first competition. It includes pacing guides, coach notes, and virtual skills integration (coming soon).
VIQRC STEM Lab in Progress
A companion STEM Lab for VIQRC Mix & Match is underway. Sessions 1 and 2 are nearly complete, with coach support designed for younger students and first-time teams. The full lab will walk students from forming a team to attending their first event.
AIM Activity Filters Updated
You can now filter AIM activities by unit (aligned with the Intro Course) and by subject (based on CSTA standards). This makes it much easier to find exactly what you need—whether you’re reviewing or extending a concept.
Get a Sneak Peek at the New Accessibility Updates in VEXcode!
The new Insights post outlines updates like high-contrast colors, toolbox reorganizations, and preview access via beta sites. A great way to prepare for the new school year.
All 2025 Educators Conference Videos Are Now in PD+
All Keynotes and presentations are now available to watch in the PD+ Video Library. Catch up on what you missed or revisit your favorites. Remember, you can share these with your team by copy and pasting the url. If you don’t have pd+ all-access, you can use this PLC post here to view them: 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference Presentations Now Available!
Dex with Sensors build (PDF + parts list) is now live.
Hero Bot for the 2025-26 VEX V5 Robotics Competition, Push Back. This build requires a Competition Starter Kit. This transition build starts with a fully built Dex and adds sensors to the Hero Bot. This build requires materials beyond the Competition Starter Kit. You can find all builds across all the VEX Robotics platforms at: builds.vex.com
July 04, 2025
Curriculum & Educator Resources
Insights Article
Repurpose and Reuse V5RC and VIQRC Game Elements
standards.vex.com now points to a new article summarizing alignment with US, UK, and ACARA standards.
VEX AIM now aligned to TEKS – available now for Texas educators.
Web & Community Updates
VEX CTE Course 1 now has full audio descriptions + transcripts.
VEX AIM API site: added block listings and syntax highlighting for Python.
2025 - 2026 Competition Hero Builds: VEX IQ Huey and VEX V5 Dex - 3D build instructions and full parts lists (with 10-digit part numbers) now posted to builds.dex.com.
June 20, 2025
Curriculum & Educator Resources
Insights Article
Making the Standards Work for You: Using VEX as a Cross-Curricular Supplemental Resource
New Insights article explains what our international standards alignment means—including U.S. national, ACARA (Australia), and how to request localized guidance.
AI Literacy Activities are now live for VEX GO, expanding the original VEX 123 collection—complete with context and sequencing.
We now have 32 total AIM Activities now published, including new options that spotlight the console, custom controller code, and screen interactions.
All camp resources at camps.vex.com have been reorganized: clearer navigation, improved filtering, and added support docs for afterschool/hourly implementation.
We are continually adding the presentations from the 2025 Educators Conference to your PD+ Video Library. Don’t forget you can share these by copying the URL and sending to your colleagues and friends.
WCAG 2.1 AA compliance reached for EXP STEM Labs—full video transcripts and audio descriptions are now available.
June 6, 2025
Curriculum & Educator Resources
Insights Article
Summer Reading 2025 In this article, we’ve gathered a collection of reads to support your journey through reflection, learning, and continuous improvement.
New AIM & CTE Camps now live at camps.vex.com with improved navigation, planning tools, and audio-descriptive video support.
AI Literacy Activities released for VEX 123, co-designed with Dr. Maya Israel and Woodland Hills—includes guidance on sequencing and implementation.
VEX AIM Activities expanded to 28 total, showcasing a wide range of features and student engagement tools.
Using the Vision Utility with the Vision Sensor updated in the Knowledge Base for IQ, EXP, and V5 and in the API
Australia Curriculum Alignment (ACARA 9.0) now live for all platforms at standards.vex.com
Keynote Presentation now available from the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference: Dr. David Touretzky (Carnegie Mellon) on teaching AI in classrooms using VEX AIM—now live in the VEX PD+ Video Library or here
Web & Community Updates
- Descriptive Audio added to nearly all EXP STEM Labs; audio toggle now available inside lessons.
- Accessibility Badge (AD) now flags when our STEM Labs meet full WCAG 2.1 compliance requirements.
- New Community Badges reflect educator certifications and PD+ subscription status (e.g., All-Access, VR Premium) on profiles and posts to make it easier to connect!
Software Updates
- AIM’s High Contrast Blocks and Toolbox Design now implemented for IQ, EXP, and V5.
- Python Command List Redesign: Syntax grouping and collapsible sections now live for IQ Python.
May 2025
Insights Article
Reflections from the 2025 VEX Robotics Educators Conference
Featuring stories from PD+, software, and education teams. A great resource to share with anyone who attended—or is considering attending in the future 
Curriculum & Educator Resources
- AIM Educator Certification Course Includes new pedagogy content on mindset, student supports, and practical coding strategies.
- New VEX AIM Activities including:
- 3 under the Custom Controller category
- Drive Mode Scavenger Hunt
- Magic Square (math-based task)
- Reminder: Completing the AIM Educator Certification unlocks access to the VEX PD+ AIM and General Community Chats.
Web & Community Updates
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Educators Conference Certificates now downloadable from your PD+ dashboard under “Certifications”.
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Profile Photo Upload is now live in the VEX PLC—customize your profile under preferences.
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VEXcode AIM is now available on the iOS App Store.
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Accessibility Enhancements: Full keyboard navigation across project screens and examples
April 2025
New Research Papers (on research.vex.com)
3 new peer-reviewed papers from the SITE Conference, including:
- A study showing PD+ improves teacher confidence.
- Participatory AI curriculum design with the University of Florida.
- A local initiative on Unified Robotics for inclusive learning.
Insights Articles
The Value of Drive Mode in AIM: Laying a Foundation for Coding Success
Coding Without Limits: Accessibility Enhancements in VEXcode AIM
Encouraging Productive Student Conversations with VEX AIM
We are discussing all things VEX AIM!
Curriculum & Educator Resources
teachaim.vex.com launched as a centralized hub for educators.
VEX AIM Intro Course is here!
18 VEX AIM Activities are here!
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Focus on obstacle navigation, diagonal movement with angle calculation, and object manipulation.
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Included new printable tools (e.g., robot protractor, path planning sheets).
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Constructing Knowledge resources introduced—step-by-step support articles embedded alongside tutorials.
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Teacher notes now include deep-linked VEX Library articles**, PD+ masterclass videos, and Educators Conference clips.
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Standards alignment for Units 1–5 (CSTA, NGSS, Common Core, ISTE) published.
Accessibility & Integration
- Major accessibility upgrades:
- Block contrast improvements, screen reader compatibility, and fully accessible tutorial formats (to meet WCAG standards).
- Unified navigation across teach site, library, API, and software.
Software Updates
- VEXcode AIM
Python toolbox rework (streamlined navigation).- New examples, improved block category coloring, and highlighting.
Recent files access and improved sound file compression (up to 10 seconds).
- New examples, improved block category coloring, and highlighting.
Education sites, API, and Library are now all available for VEX AIM
VEX AIM orders can be placed now at vexrobotics.com
VEXcode AIM and VEX AIM Resource List
VEXcode AIM (Windows / Mac Download)
VEXcode AIM API (Code Documentation)
March 3, 2025
Insights Article – Introducing VEX AIM outlines the full AIM learning journey—from driving with a controller to AI Vision and Python coding.
VEX AIM is getting closer to launch! The API, curriculum, and software updates are aligning to ensure a seamless classroom experience.
Accessibility Milestone: WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance – VEX GO, IQ, and V5 Labs now include audio descriptions & transcripts, ensuring full compliance.
New VEX IQ Build Instructions – Based on educator feedback, we’ve added passive manipulator build instructions to builds.vex.com. These help students understand mechanical connections before integrating with a full robot. More builds coming soon!
February 17, 2025
Insights Article February is CTE Month!
- Highlighted for its small footprint & hands-on experience, blending academics with real-world skills.
- Includes educator experiences from last year’s VEX Educators Conference & ACTE Conference.
- Want to share it? PD+ deep linking allows easy access!
IQ Educator Certification Intro Course now integrates Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines
Overview of UDL to introduce concepts.
Personalized learning goals at the start and end of units.
Video summaries & time estimates for better pacing.
UDL call-outs to highlight specific guidelines for inclusive learning.
Texas TEKS standards have been separated from national standards at standards.vex.com.
- Teachers in Texas can now filter for TEKS-aligned VEX STEM Labs more easily.
V5 STEM Labs are now ADA compliant, including:
Transcripts for captions on all videos.
Audio descriptions for screen reader users.
Better contrast & keyboard accessibility for easier navigation.
These improvements bring V5 & IQ Labs in line with WCAG standards, ensuring compliance with federal and state accessibility requirements
February 3, 2025
Insights Article Why Spatial Skills Matter at Every Level
VEX PD+ Achieves UDL Product Certification 
Insights Article → VEX PD+ is Now UDL Product Certified
- VEX PD+ is now Universal Design for Learning (UDL) certified by CAST.
- This includes three major accessibility achievements:
- WCAG 2.1 compliance – Ensuring all PD+ content is accessible.
- UDL Baseline Certification – Embedding UDL principles in all courses.
- UDL in Action – Teachers can now see explicit UDL callouts in courses like the VEX 123 Certification.
- Teachers using PD+ can now apply UDL principles in their own classrooms more effectively.
Enhanced Accessibility for VEX Educators
- New Accessibility Site: accessibility.vex.com
- Features VEX’s VPAT statements and ongoing accessibility efforts.
- All VEX sites now include accessibility statements in their footers.
- STEM Lab Improvements:
IQ STEM Labs are now fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant!
All videos now have descriptive audio and transcripts to support diverse learners.
Look for the new audio description logo on accessible labs.
Why this matters: These updates ensure that every learner can engage with VEX content, making STEM more inclusive!
Scratch Blocks Now Fully Accessible
- All VEX API blocks are now screen reader-friendly!
- No more static images—blocks are generated dynamically for:
- Faster page loads.
- Future translation efforts (making VEX content even more global).
- CTE Scratch Blocks will be live soon!
VEX Educators Conference 2025: Speaker & Schedule Page is Live! 
- Now you can:
- Browse accepted speakers and keynotes.
- Use the schedule to convince their leadership to attend!
- Keynote Speakers So Far:
- Dr. David Tourtezky (Carnegie Mellon University)
- Dr. Pam Gilchrist (Virginia Tech)
- Jason McKenna (VEX Robotics)
VEX CTE Standards Alignment for the UK can be found here.
