Reflecting on our second full month in the Makerspace, we've learned a lot!
- iPads are wonderful! They've been our most "checked out" item - mostly by EC teachers who recognize their benefits. A great new app has come to light through our CC, Ms Sanchez. Actively Learn. It allows you to assess student comprehension during reading either with their already accessible texts or with those you upload yourself. It gives you scores as well from which to collect data. I've asked Ms Wood and Ms Griffith, (EC/standard classroom environment) to present at the next faculty meeting. I've also uploaded a released version of our 8th grade EOG and offered it to our CC - she seems to like it!! Look into it! Also used on the iPads - Plickers, although I had to do an end run around the fact that it's a phone only app. We've also used the iPads to use the most used/popular feature in the Makerspace..
- Green Screen by Do Ink! We've had Mr. Walsh, Mr. Luthi, Ms. Smith, Dr. Storch, all using green screen technology - and I offered a Green Screen PD last Monday and had 7 participants who promise to use it soon! The technology was used in World Languages, Language Arts and Social Studies. Most important learning - You have to push the red circle button to record! - It's just that easy! Right now the awkwardness of how to move files to other locations is being solved by direct transfer using the cable. - Oh, and we have to send one iPad in for service - a student put in a password and now it's locked for others. Need AirWatch training!! And to better supervise our students with these/all devices.
-3D Printing. Wow it's been a month! As you've read, the printer has been a "tinkerer's 3D printer", but knock on wood, we're running the left extruder successfully. I changed the blue base and EVERYTHING sticks now - too well! I 3D'd a piece to hold the smaller spools of filament - made it too short, but compensated with a paper tube - think it's working. I've gotten some students to begin designing - and a parent too!
- iPads are wonderful! They've been our most "checked out" item - mostly by EC teachers who recognize their benefits. A great new app has come to light through our CC, Ms Sanchez. Actively Learn. It allows you to assess student comprehension during reading either with their already accessible texts or with those you upload yourself. It gives you scores as well from which to collect data. I've asked Ms Wood and Ms Griffith, (EC/standard classroom environment) to present at the next faculty meeting. I've also uploaded a released version of our 8th grade EOG and offered it to our CC - she seems to like it!! Look into it! Also used on the iPads - Plickers, although I had to do an end run around the fact that it's a phone only app. We've also used the iPads to use the most used/popular feature in the Makerspace..
- Green Screen by Do Ink! We've had Mr. Walsh, Mr. Luthi, Ms. Smith, Dr. Storch, all using green screen technology - and I offered a Green Screen PD last Monday and had 7 participants who promise to use it soon! The technology was used in World Languages, Language Arts and Social Studies. Most important learning - You have to push the red circle button to record! - It's just that easy! Right now the awkwardness of how to move files to other locations is being solved by direct transfer using the cable. - Oh, and we have to send one iPad in for service - a student put in a password and now it's locked for others. Need AirWatch training!! And to better supervise our students with these/all devices.
-3D Printing. Wow it's been a month! As you've read, the printer has been a "tinkerer's 3D printer", but knock on wood, we're running the left extruder successfully. I changed the blue base and EVERYTHING sticks now - too well! I 3D'd a piece to hold the smaller spools of filament - made it too short, but compensated with a paper tube - think it's working. I've gotten some students to begin designing - and a parent too!
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After our Genius Hour fiasco session where because they are under 13? 14? they had to have parental approval, I just created a generic KvilleMiddle account and printed up cards and passed them out. Business is picking up, but the designs are taking so long to print! One took over 5 hours! and then it was ~. Great design, but perhaps too intricate for a 3D printer. Several students in Ms Brandes' room used the 3D printer to print items, (beds, dresser..) for their "Room" project.
-We were awarded the grant from Kernersville Chamber of Commerce to replace our Makerspace tabletops, but after looking at the way the old ones are chipping in the Science classroom, we're looking at another way - using showerboard from Lowe's Home Improvement and gluing it on the tables. I have a prototype ready to try tomorrow.
-Ann. (Media Coordinator/Other Makerspace Teacher Leader) has catalogued all our big-ticket items as was requested by the District. We had to work out a check out system with our iPads - I'm marking it on the Calendar - not sure it will work forever, but for now it does. We've received a USB Midi Keyboard, a Raspberry Pi and a Kano from UNCG . (Click on the word to see what it is!) Part of me was THRILLED at the new technology, another part of me was like, "Great! How are are going to integrate this!!" (read that with a tinge of sarcasm! - there's a bit of the overwhelmed in me at this point). We've also gotten a SWIVL from our District, (again click). I am so grateful I have lightened my teaching load by 1/2, (that brings up a whole other discussion - but not here..) because I do have some time to "play" with the new things.
- Drone Technology is advancing at KMS! Thanks to Garner Coleman I have begun to learn to fly our Drone so I can pass along the skill to our students - and teachers. I am disappointed that teachers haven't stepped up to learn on their own, but it is what it is. Mr. Coleman and I have met 2 times now and I'm progressing, but nothing was so exciting as seeing him fly OUR drone 400 ft up in the air!! (And subsequently land it successfully :) ). Dr. Helms has also offered/retained another resource - Mr. Oliver - Band WSFCS had a drone flying at the Band competition and he is willing to meet/demo for our students. Need to follow up on that.
- Cricut - we've gotten it up/running - had to call the Company to walk us through installing drivers manually. I tried it out a bit a couple of weeks ago. We might have a use here next week with the student who created the heart above for her mom's birthday - she'll need a card to go with.
- We've received donations - some we haven't unboxed yet. I had a talk with Mike from UNCG that we need to figure out HOW to integrate beyond just Green Screen and Makey-Makey, (story to follow). He and Sage are going to come to our PLTs this upcoming Friday to listen and then we'll meet to see if we can figure out some curriculum integration ideas. Since Friday is a tech day for me, I will also sit in. Perhaps we'll begin to more forwarder. (yes, I wrote that on purpose.)
- Coding Club - an offshoot of the Makerspace - a continuation from last year has been limping along - 1/2 hour "here's a website", 1/2 hour "do as you want" - not much imagination UNTIL last Friday when Mike, UNCG came and with him brought an Arduino/Ardusat activity, Zombie Detector, (CLICK). The coders were all-in!
After our Genius Hour fiasco session where because they are under 13? 14? they had to have parental approval, I just created a generic KvilleMiddle account and printed up cards and passed them out. Business is picking up, but the designs are taking so long to print! One took over 5 hours! and then it was ~. Great design, but perhaps too intricate for a 3D printer. Several students in Ms Brandes' room used the 3D printer to print items, (beds, dresser..) for their "Room" project.
-We were awarded the grant from Kernersville Chamber of Commerce to replace our Makerspace tabletops, but after looking at the way the old ones are chipping in the Science classroom, we're looking at another way - using showerboard from Lowe's Home Improvement and gluing it on the tables. I have a prototype ready to try tomorrow.
-Ann. (Media Coordinator/Other Makerspace Teacher Leader) has catalogued all our big-ticket items as was requested by the District. We had to work out a check out system with our iPads - I'm marking it on the Calendar - not sure it will work forever, but for now it does. We've received a USB Midi Keyboard, a Raspberry Pi and a Kano from UNCG . (Click on the word to see what it is!) Part of me was THRILLED at the new technology, another part of me was like, "Great! How are are going to integrate this!!" (read that with a tinge of sarcasm! - there's a bit of the overwhelmed in me at this point). We've also gotten a SWIVL from our District, (again click). I am so grateful I have lightened my teaching load by 1/2, (that brings up a whole other discussion - but not here..) because I do have some time to "play" with the new things.
- Drone Technology is advancing at KMS! Thanks to Garner Coleman I have begun to learn to fly our Drone so I can pass along the skill to our students - and teachers. I am disappointed that teachers haven't stepped up to learn on their own, but it is what it is. Mr. Coleman and I have met 2 times now and I'm progressing, but nothing was so exciting as seeing him fly OUR drone 400 ft up in the air!! (And subsequently land it successfully :) ). Dr. Helms has also offered/retained another resource - Mr. Oliver - Band WSFCS had a drone flying at the Band competition and he is willing to meet/demo for our students. Need to follow up on that.
- Cricut - we've gotten it up/running - had to call the Company to walk us through installing drivers manually. I tried it out a bit a couple of weeks ago. We might have a use here next week with the student who created the heart above for her mom's birthday - she'll need a card to go with.
- We've received donations - some we haven't unboxed yet. I had a talk with Mike from UNCG that we need to figure out HOW to integrate beyond just Green Screen and Makey-Makey, (story to follow). He and Sage are going to come to our PLTs this upcoming Friday to listen and then we'll meet to see if we can figure out some curriculum integration ideas. Since Friday is a tech day for me, I will also sit in. Perhaps we'll begin to more forwarder. (yes, I wrote that on purpose.)
- Coding Club - an offshoot of the Makerspace - a continuation from last year has been limping along - 1/2 hour "here's a website", 1/2 hour "do as you want" - not much imagination UNTIL last Friday when Mike, UNCG came and with him brought an Arduino/Ardusat activity, Zombie Detector, (CLICK). The coders were all-in!
Mike has promised to come back this Friday to continue. I have to say I feel inadequate when it comes to giving these students a more inviting/challenging club. Grateful Mike has taken an interest. The club is made up of guys - one girl wanted to join, but was scared off when she discovered she was the only girl. Dr. Helms has been announcing "Coding Club this Friday!", but no more girls have shown - and I will say, I'm not on the search - just have a full plate... Rock and a hard place. h e l p!
- Scheduling in the Makerspace has been a challenge too this month, continuing with reflecting. We are just 2 of us Ann and myself and when 2 teachers want the same time - how do we turn one away at the risk of losing their interest in the Maker ideal? And so, we've juggled both - doing neither one great justice. We want teachers to use the space, but perhaps we need to push more toward self sufficiency? - But they can't leave the rest of their students unattended to have a few benefit from the Makerspace?
- The UNCG class has gone by the wayside. It just didn't work this semester. - Grateful we could let that go, but in its place we've discovered how wonderful it is to have partners in crime! We continue to meet at one another's Makerspaces to support one another and to discuss issues - like iPad apps, AirWatch training and the October disbursement of more funding. (List to follow of what we want to buy this go-round)
EFHS Makerspace (Click to go!)
SEMS Makerspace page (Click again!)
Anchored in the Makerspace, (hosted Karen Frauenhoffer - SEMS - a VERY cool site - love the artistic and powerful posts! (Click on the photo below). I struggle with others doing Makerspace better than I do. I know it's a wide open market, but when someone does "more", "better", "cooler" etc - I just am jealous - and competitive! Just saying!
- Scheduling in the Makerspace has been a challenge too this month, continuing with reflecting. We are just 2 of us Ann and myself and when 2 teachers want the same time - how do we turn one away at the risk of losing their interest in the Maker ideal? And so, we've juggled both - doing neither one great justice. We want teachers to use the space, but perhaps we need to push more toward self sufficiency? - But they can't leave the rest of their students unattended to have a few benefit from the Makerspace?
- The UNCG class has gone by the wayside. It just didn't work this semester. - Grateful we could let that go, but in its place we've discovered how wonderful it is to have partners in crime! We continue to meet at one another's Makerspaces to support one another and to discuss issues - like iPad apps, AirWatch training and the October disbursement of more funding. (List to follow of what we want to buy this go-round)
EFHS Makerspace (Click to go!)
SEMS Makerspace page (Click again!)
Anchored in the Makerspace, (hosted Karen Frauenhoffer - SEMS - a VERY cool site - love the artistic and powerful posts! (Click on the photo below). I struggle with others doing Makerspace better than I do. I know it's a wide open market, but when someone does "more", "better", "cooler" etc - I just am jealous - and competitive! Just saying!
Let's bring this VERY LONG post to a close - the length of the reflection is truly representative to all we have experienced and learned in the Makerspace. Stay tuned for next month's posts.
Tchao!
Tchao!