Here's the new logo! What do you think?
We started by priming the tops of old Science tables to apply dry erase paint. When we stepped back to admire the first step, Ann decided the frames were mismatched, old and ugly... She had a gallon of an aqua blue... It will take 2 coats, and we still have the dry erase paint to apply on the tops, but what a great tool! Imagine doing calculations for Math, conjugating verbs in French, writing stories with illustrations for Language Arts, cell divisions in Science, timelines for Social Studies.. and that's off the top of my head! Ta! Da!
Here's the new logo! What do you think?
0 Comments
I wanted to unbox and set up our Forge Creator Pro 3D Printer today. We had the meeting, (previous blog), but the box kept saying "I'm here! Open me! I want to come out and PRINT!" So, after everyone had left, I began to unpack the box. Now I will preface what I'm about to write with the statement "I was tired from the morning's work". The set up instructions were nowhere to be found so I located the online website of Forge and called. When I explained the problem, I was told, "Your printer came with an SD Card. Put it in your computer. The manual will be on it." SD Card. SD Card. What's an SD Card? (Please reference the "I was tired" above. Finally, the lightbulb clicked and I searched/found the card! Hurrah! And many thanks to our District for choosing laptops, (Lenovo x131e) that has an SD Card reader!! .. And there it was! So I began to read through the guide and came across this.. And stopped for the day. More to come tomorrow after I talk with Mike, (UNCG)
With the help of a SWOT (Strengths, Working on, Opportunities and Threats) we began to flush/flesh(?) out what our KMSMakerspace will begin to look like. This morning in Room 612, Dr. Helms, Ann & myself (KMS), and Sage, Mike, Myrah & Emma (UNCG) met to discuss Strengths, Working on, Opportunities, and Threats, (better known as challenges, but SWOC isn't as catchy as SWOT - I tried SWAT, but the "A' was confounding, but I digress..) Strengths - Room 612 is a great location! Thanks to Administration giving such a perfect site. It's got 2 doors, 2 bathrooms, (dark room? Green Screen filming/recording rooms), sink, great lighting, cupboards and cabinets, and have I mentioned location? Right on the main hall! Dedicated staff & time - With Ann being Media Coordinator and me being 1/2 time Tech Coach, we will have time to help integrate Makerspace practices into our classrooms. It's perfect! Staff! We've got an awesome staff who will recognize the benefits and will clamor to get the Makerspace mentality spread throughout the school Working on - Sharing the vision and building relationships with this new environment. UNCG/KMS/WSFCS.. LMNO.. A lot of people doing a lot of new things. I believe we will do find because we recognize the importance of the Maker way, are willing to listen, compromise and/or advocate for what we believe in. Professional Development and PLTs are a good location to help develop the Makerspace practices. We'll need to work in those, but how do we meet with all the groups, when,..? Opportunities - Genius Hour is coming to KMS! A perfect way to blend Makerspace mentality with student motivation interest. Once a month, our school will give students room to investigate and learn about what they're passionate about - and at the end, present their findings. Professional Development comes up again as we are able to look at Cultural Competencies - a perfect match for Makerspace practices. Threats - (Challenges) looking at how do we communicate the band new program in our school? Letters of introduction, permission, donations need to be created and passed out. What's the big picture? Once school starts, the school year tends to be like a runaway train. How do we stay on board and lay the tracks to better learning for our students? and us? With the beginning of school just around the corner, how do we get our Makerspace looking like a Makerspace? How will we show off our capabilities? We've got Sam & Sammie, our student leaders ready and waiting to lend a hand? What will their part look like? Will have to do better at snapping candid shots - they caught me.
Ann (KMS) and Mike (UNCG) looking over the site. This is the "before" picture. And we have tables! Ann and Mr. Smith (KMS) requisitioned Science tables, (total of 8). We'll apply dry erase primer and paint on Thursday. Storing our Makerspace supplies until the room has been cleaned, tables painted, and all is ready.
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:
|
Archives
March 2016
KMS MAKERSPACECreated through the generosity and affiliation with UNCG and its Transforming Teaching Through Technology Grant, (T4), Our KMS Makerspace will offer our students creative ways to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in learning at Kernersville Middle School. Categories |