Here it is! The Inaugural Blog! My name is Cathy Musci and I am the Teacher Leader for our up and coming KMSMakerSpace launching at the beginning of this school year, 2015-2016. This Blog will serve to chonicle our journey this first year. I'm starting late, so some will come from memory, and I will begin in earnest to keep posting for posterity's sake. It has been a huge social, academic and life learning experience so far. Let me review:
In December of last year, I tagged along to a meeting to take notes for my principal who had just had rotator cuff surgery. The Meeting was attended by the Administration of three location schools, KMS, SEMS, and EHS, representatives from our District Technology Department, UNCG personnel and various others with responsibilities.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the T4, (Transforming Teaching Through Technology) Grant that UNCG had been awarded, $7.7 Million dollars over five years to our three schools. As part of the grant, UNCG would offer each school $12,500 for 25 devices and $6,000.00 to stock our school Makerspace. Too, enrollment in two courses in Learning Sciences were included at no cost for the leaders.
The decision was made on the room, 612, (pics to follow); centrally located, sinks, good size. Ann , our Media Coordinator joined in as co-leader and requisitioning began. We chose a mixture of Thinkpad 11e Touch, Thinkpad 11e, Ipad minis,and an Ipad Air. The purpose of the melange was two-fold; we felt our students needed the opportunity to use different operating systems, and each device brings its own benefits. We created a survey to ask our staff items they wanted, and their first of the year curriculum plans to guide our decisions.
Following is the rest of our initial purchasing:
In December of last year, I tagged along to a meeting to take notes for my principal who had just had rotator cuff surgery. The Meeting was attended by the Administration of three location schools, KMS, SEMS, and EHS, representatives from our District Technology Department, UNCG personnel and various others with responsibilities.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the T4, (Transforming Teaching Through Technology) Grant that UNCG had been awarded, $7.7 Million dollars over five years to our three schools. As part of the grant, UNCG would offer each school $12,500 for 25 devices and $6,000.00 to stock our school Makerspace. Too, enrollment in two courses in Learning Sciences were included at no cost for the leaders.
The decision was made on the room, 612, (pics to follow); centrally located, sinks, good size. Ann , our Media Coordinator joined in as co-leader and requisitioning began. We chose a mixture of Thinkpad 11e Touch, Thinkpad 11e, Ipad minis,and an Ipad Air. The purpose of the melange was two-fold; we felt our students needed the opportunity to use different operating systems, and each device brings its own benefits. We created a survey to ask our staff items they wanted, and their first of the year curriculum plans to guide our decisions.
Following is the rest of our initial purchasing:
- Epson color printer & ink
- Sony Action Cam
- Sound system, (a musician/teacher guided us, have no clue)
- Green Screen & Lighting
- Dry erase paint/primer for tables
- Domida Ominus Drone (!!!)
- USB Microscope
- Clay, paint, pottery tools, brushes
- Cricut Explore One & peripherals
- Flash Forge Creator Pro Bundle
- 1 Little Bits Deluxe Kit
- 10 Makey-Makeys & extra alligator clips & copper tape
- Lots of PLA Filament, (12 rolls)
- 3 - 12 outlet Belkin Surge Protector power strips
- 6 sets of dry erase makers, dry erase marker erasers
- 3 Arduino Ultimate Starter kits
- 2 Arudsat Space Kits