InnEdCO 2017 -- Makerspaces/Innovative Learning Lab

Building an Innovative Learning Lab:
1) Meet with teachers to come up with a plan to use the library

2) What projects can students collaboratively working on in my space?

3) Partnerships: who can I meet with to make my Makerspace better?
     -EdTech specialists
     -Maker materials donations -- could the Steck community help?
     -Local Business sponsors
     -Hill MS teachers

4) Storage -- research how to have functional storage
    -reach out to others that have the same issue with space
    -fund through Donor's Choose/PTA grant?

Resources:
http://www.demco.com/goto?MAKERSPACE
Amazon storage shelves
https://www.edsurge.com/research/guides/how-to-build-your-makerspace

InnEdCO 2017 -- Snapshots

Infusing Engineering into a Science classroom
Paige Dersham
Presentation link

Create your own Coding Club Using Google CS First
Megan Cosmos
Presentation Link

Google CS First

Tips & Tricks:

• Use Google Forms
• Record logins asap
• Get parent permission
• Encourage sharing & discussion
• Logged into Google CS First and Scratch
• Prepare - Plan - Play

Their materials:

• are completely free and available online
• are targeted at students in grades 4th-8th (ages 9-14)
• can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs
• involve block-based coding using Scratch and are themed to attract students with varied interests
  
  
   

Global Carboard Challenge

Throughout the month of September, my 4th graders will participate in the Global Cardboard Challenge. During the challenge, students will design and build things out of cardboard to present on Oct 1 on the Global Cardboard Challenge Day.

The inspiration for the Cardboard Challenge comes from a boy named Caine who built his own arcade out of cardboard.

Learn more about the cardboard challenge by following #cardboardchallenge

Donor's Choose

It's that time of year again!! For the beginning of the 2016-17 school, Donor's Choose will match any donation given to your project.

If you aren't familiar with Donor's Choose, you can create a "project" to be funded by private donors. The "project" can include numerous educational materials including technology, books, supplies, etc. Then, you share your project on social media, email, or a website, while donors can discover your projects through the Donor's choose website.

Here's my most recent project: Tools for Our Makerspace

Eduporium

Do you want technology in your classroom. Are you curious about Makerspaces and STEAM? Not sure where to start?

Eduporium is a one-stop shop to help you decide which technology is right for you, pricing on said technology, and connect to other educators for best ways to use the technology.

LittleBits and Design Thinking ISTE2016

It's the third and final day of ISTE2016. For my first session, I'm attending:

Creativity, Innovation, and a "LittleBit" of Design Thinking

LittleBits website

I recently received 4 sets of LittleBits from a Donor's Choose project and am excited to see how other educators are using them. They're essentially small circuits that piece together. Students can build all sorts of things with them.

Little Bits Design Challenge:
-students work collaboratively with LittleBits to create something that makes the world better

Design Thinking:
1) Exploration (empathize & define) -- where do you see problems? Can you define it?
2) Ideation (ideate) -- brainstorming
3) Prototyping (prototype) -- building their first model
4)Modification (test) -- testing and making changes to the prototype
5) Sharing -- could they share beyond the classroom? video? podcast?

Design Thinking => Constructivistm (makerspaces) => Inquiry-based learning

My thoughts:
Design Thinking can work in almost any classroom, content-area, or grade level. In literacy, students can take a stance, research their stance, write an essay explaining their stance, rewrite after constructive criticism, and share it with the world through a blog. The more time spent around the exploration and ideation process the better. Students need to become comfortable with asking questions and thinking deeply on how to answer those questions. This will, hopefully, foster life-long learning in our students and give them the confidence to be curious explorers.

Extra Resources:

NASA Partners with LittleBits Electronics on STEM Activities 

Design Thinking for Educators

New littleBits Education helps schools integrate STEM/STEAM

Design Thinking: Lessons for the Classroom

Case Study: Design Thinking STEAM School

Student Centered Classrooms ISTE2016

After a fantastic Keynote speaker (Dr. Ruha Benjamin, she was inspiring!) this morning and some wandering around the Vendor Booths (tons of fun upstairs), I'm ready to attend my first session of the day:

Student Centered Classrooms in Meeting Hall 707 with Nichole Carter and Jon Samuelson

Jon's podcast => http://techlandia.podomatic.com/

Today's Presentation

What is Student Centered?
-student in control = collaboration, PBL, tech, choice, making/creating -- ENGAGEMENT
-teachers = facilitator, coach, find student passion

1) Classroom Redesign
     Apps for designing a classroom = Classroom Architecture, Kaplan Floor Plan, Adobe Draw

2) Blended Learning
     -HyperDocs -- create links for students to explore on their own
     -Pinterest Board -- different ways to provide online avenues to pursue their own learning

3) Student Unconferences
     -Pinterest Boards
     -Adobe Spark -- quickly create animated videos, memes

4) Genius Hour

5) Making & Tinkering
    -Bloxel Overview


made with Adobe Spark

Makerspaces ISTE2016

After a quick lunch break, I'm headed to my 3rd session of the day. It's my first PANEL session where there are multiple presenters on one topic. Excited to check it out:

MAKE Today and Tomorrow in Meeting Hall 707:
-Are makerspaces a fad or the future of hands-on education?
-How do we align making to curriculum?
-How do we create flexible, dynamic space for students on a limited budget?

**They're using slido.com to back channel the panel (we can ask questions/discuss/poll during the panel)**

1) Start small -- find smaller projects, few materials
2) Find a community of makers -- have already tried (makerspaces.com)
3) Be OK with failure
4) Ask teachers, parents, community for "junk"
5) Find used/obsolete equipment to harvest wires, parts, etc. -- think of safety first (gloves, eyeglasses, etc.)
6) Find carts w/ carts & bins -- making materials mobile
7) Project storage -- racks w/ hanging bags (see pdf below), hallway, tall bins

Extra resources:

• http://www.burkes21st.org/
• http://www.iste-learning-space.org/
• https://conference.iste.org/uploads/ISTE2016/HANDOUTS/KEY_100479922/BurkesMakeryISTEHandout.pdf
• pinterest.com/BurkesPins

Free Makerspace Ebook

Interested in starting a Makerspace in your classroom? Here's a FREE ebook from Makerspaces.com.
 The books provides the following information:

-3D printing and modeling software

-Makerspace materials, resources, websites, and project idea

-Coding & Computer Science

-Maker Business

-Expos, Events & Conferences – Maker / EdTech

-Research & Articles – Maker Movement / EdTech

-Twitter Hashtags

STEM/STEAM Projects

With the creation of our Makerspaces projects, and, fingers crossed for grant money, our new STEM/STEAM lab next year. I'm digging for STEM and STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, ART, and Math) projects and resources. Edutopia has an extensive collection of resources whether you're looking for STEM, STEAM, or Makerspaces projects. Great resource!

Makerspaces in the Library

Are you a librarian? Curious about incorporating the Makerspace Movement into your library? Diana Rendina, a library media specialist in Hillsborough County School District, has Slide Share presentation showing librarians ways to include STEAM projects in their library program. She states, "Makerspaces and the Maker Education movement are quickly taking hold of the library world. In this session, you can learn what the Maker Movement is and find some ways to get started bringing Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics into your library program."

Makerspace Resources

Here's another fantastic resource for Makerpsaces, Coding, Video Game Creation, and Video Creation: Lewis and Clark Elementary School. Living up to their school's moniker as explorers!

Minds in Bloom

Here's an interesting websites with tons of FREE resources: Minds in Bloom. They pride themselves in discovering and creating "strategies and activities to promote creative and critical thinking." I've found numerous STEM activities to introduce in my Makerspaces. Great resource!

Maker Movement

All those teachers, students, and parents interested in making new things should subscribe to Makezine. Especially with Halloween quickly approaching, they have numerous ideas on creating costumes and decorations. Also, you can follow them on twitter: @make. Check them out!

Instructables

Inscrutables is an amazing site geared toward people who love to build things. If you're looking to build robots, remote controls, crafts, or even food, Instructables has step-by-step instuctions (with helpful pictures) to help you create. It's a DIY-ers paradise with contests, groups, and forums to join to make your building experience that much better.

STEM websites

As a technology teacher, I have a ton of students interested in makerspaces and coding. My goal is to collect as many resources as possible for both students and parents. Information Week posted an article covering 8 STEM websites students can use. I've had them work on a few including code.org but am excited to see the other ones as well.

Making a Makerspace

Because I'm desperately wanting to have makerspace stations in my library, I've been hunting for how-to's, instructions, and guidelines on how to create my own makerspaces. I stumbled across an article from EdSurge describing exactly how to do such a thing. The article also links to other helpful articles one might find interesting. I'll definitely use EdSurge to help me along my journey toward Makerspaces.

Makerspaces

Recently, our 5th grade science/math teacher received a grant to purchase a 3D printer. The students LOVE it! They've printed a a life size human heart, braille dice, and other wonderful creations. They've been using Google SketchUp to design these creations.

Edudemic recently posted an article on how to make Makerspaces like the one we have in 5th grade. It's not all about 3D printers but also includes robotics, game creations, and Makey Makey. The article also includes videos to inspire students to become inventors.