Blog Archives

Arduino Camp Day 2: Microbit Inventions

7/31/2018

Campers spent day 2 using the Microbit to create their own inventions they will showcase on Friday. Images of today's inventions are shown. Examples include, but are not limited to, "Magic 8 Balls", a "Dance Dance Revolution" simulator and a "Talking Thermometer".

Arduino Camp Day 1: The Microbit

7/30/2018

Campers spent day 1 using the Microbit to learn the basics of interfacing physical hardware with coding. Campers worked through a series of modules, leading to their own invention that they will showcase on our final day. Click here to see all modules via our leaderboard, and click here to see the handbook that contains links to all activities. A few images from today are shown below.

3-Bullet Thursday [Showlio. Lego Wedo. Basecamp]

7/26/2018

Interested in generating dynamic, beautifully aesthetic websites DIRECTLY from your dropbox folder? Consider using Showlio for student portfolio generation. Folder organization become website "tabs" and folder content is embedded dynamically on your website. Showlio is great tool for student portfolios, and with Google Drive integration coming soon, I predict its use and popularity to rise.

Looking an engaging way of connecting Robotics and Coding with elementary age students? Combining Lego Wedo and the Scratch programming language is a great way of doing just that! In Robotics, often we use code to create a function on a physical robot. Using the Scratch/Wedo extension, students can work in the reverse direction, using their physical robot to manipulate their code! Click here for an example, and click here for a tutorial on the topic.

Want a projects management/communication structure for organizing PBL in your classroom? Although a tool that has been around for 10+ years in the business world, Basecamp offers free accounts for students and teachers, Slack and Google Drive integration, with all communication in one central location organization by project. Check it out!

If you found the information in this message useful to your practice, I invite you to learn more about becoming a site member. Monthly membership includes, but is not limited to, frequent distributions of detailed online video courses, lesson plans, teaching websites, curricular resources, and access to webinars exploring the world of curiosity, inquiry and technology in the classroom. Additionally, you can find a copy of my new book, "Spark Learning: 3 Keys to Embracing the Power of Student Curiosity", by clicking here.

Soccer & STEM Camp Day 2: DragBots

7/24/2018

During Day 2 campers applied their knowledge of gearing to create a "DragBot" to race on a 16 foot track. DragBots were "geared up" by campers and programmed to stop when they sensed the presence of a green light, and move in the presence of a white light. See images Day 2's work below.

Soccer & STEM Camp Day 1: Gearing

7/24/2018

During Day 1 of the STEM portion of "Soccer & STEM Camp", campers built ball pitching machine to experiment with the process of "gearing up". After building the same machine, campers were challenged to modify their projects to change the speed and/or structure of their machine. Today, Day 2, campers will apply their knowledge of gearing to build a Robotic Dragster. See a few images of Day 1 below.