A Cool Technology and Education Conference for Everybody part 3: Minecraft and 3D Printers

 Minecraft here, Minecraft there, Minecraft was everywhere at CONNECT 2015.

Minecraft is a digital building block tool limited by only your imagination.  You can build worlds and create every little item used in that world. What teachers and students are accomplishing with this tool is mindboggling.  If you want to blow your mind explore MinecraftEdu!  MinecraftEdu was designed by teachers and it uses Minecraft to exercise that creative-critical thinking productive model as you would in your classroom. Check out the links below.

Get started by looking at what teachers are actually doing with MinecraftEd!!

http://services.minecraftedu.com/wiki/Examples_by_Subject

The homepage of MinecraftEd has information and links that will guide you on your planning journey.

http://services.minecraftedu.com/wiki/What_is_MinecraftEdu

Educational consultant and online Educator, Andrew Miller has included some brief suggestions for various subjects on Edutopia.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/minecraft-in-classroom-andrew-miller

Those of you that have not explored Educade here is an opportunity to explore both Minecraft and Educade. Educade is an education gamefication site. Here is a link posted by, Jim Pike, a 3^rd grade math teacher.  It is amazing to watch these students put real purpose to area, perimeter and multiplication using Minecraft. It is not just for 3^rd graders. After exploring the specific link explore Educade for some more interesting education ideas.

http://educade.org/lesson_plans/minecraft-math-area-and-perimeter

Creating a 3 dimensional object in the digital world has endless possibilities but 3d printers transfer your digital creation into a tangible object.  Javelin Technologies was a presenter at CONNECT 2015 and although many presenters spoke about the positive effect of 3D printers in schools, Javelin’s presentation brought it to light.  Javelin supplies Stratasys printers to both industry and education facilities.  What is being accomplished with these printers is astounding.  

Education Technology Web site has written a short article explaining how teachers are using this early stage technology to create marvellous breakthroughs in their classroom.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/importance-of-3d-printing-in-education.html

 Engineering.com provided a brief history of the evolution and advancements of 3d printing. http://www.engineering.com/3DPrinting/3DPrintingArticles/ArticleID/6262/Infographic-The-History-of-3D-Printing.aspx

Stratasys has provided lesson plans to assist educators with method to create integrated lessons or a 3D printing course. Check out this website for more information.

http://www.stratasys.com/industries/education

Finally, Javelin has supplied Stratasys webinar: 3D printing 101. There is a video attached to the brief article. The video highlights and provides suggestions for lessons to be used in the classroom.

http://www.javelin-tech.com/3d-printer/3d-printing-101-a-primer-for-educators-video/

Whether it is in the digital world or the real world, technology is advancing our ability to easily create what we can imagine. Minecraft and 3D printers are two very impressive tools to let our student’s imagination explore these new boundaries.  These are wonderful toys but with a deliberate approach to really create, critique and be productive they are powerful education tools.

 If you have a story where technology has helped increase a teaching or learning goal and would like to share it with us.  If so please contact me at: willjlegge65@gmail.com

Till next time,

Bill

A Cool Technology and Education Conference for Everybody part 2: Makerspace and Hackerspace

Creative, critical productive thinking was idea tossed about by many presenters during the CONNECT 2015 conference.  The definition of the idea is quite simply combining creativity and critical thinking to create a productive outcome. Check out this informative Web page filled with information and links on creative and critical thinking for both students and teachers. 

ASA/education/think/creative.htm

 One concept that was built from this creative- critical, productive thinking model was Makerspace or Hackerspace. These two terms refer to the same model: students have a space where they can create, invent , and build their ideas. Many of the presenters touched on these ideas in their various forms with the consensus being that the rise of student motivation was considerable and the creative output was enormous. 

Here are three very different You Tube videos on the Makerspace/Hacker space movement.

The first video is how Elementary and middle years students are using the idea.

This video is from an adult community that created their own Makerspace.

This link is about Hackerspace. You will see that the common interests are often technological and computer based interests but it is not exclusive to those interests. This is how a high school is using Hackerspace.

 

This Pinterest link board has many different resources to help create your own Makerspace.

Pinterest Makerspace-Inspiration

 So you vocational teachers and students are thinking, “Hey that is what I do.” You do and you do it well but imagine if we could expand those horizons into a place for all to create, invent and build their ideas. The question, “Where do we start?” is food for thought but it is exciting to ponder the possibilities. I think the trick is if your are inspired, start small and build.

This concludes part 2 of CONNECT 2015.

If you have a story where technology has helped increase a teaching or learning goal and would like to share it with us.  If so please contact me at:

willjlegge65@gmail.com

Till next time,

Bill

A Cool Technology and Education Conference for Everybody part 1: Keynote speaker Eric Sheninger

“Pedagogy is the vehicle. Technology is the accelerator!” 
- Eric Sheninger 

This TECH CORNER will highlight some of the wonderful presentations and resources from CONNECT 2015 conference in Niagara Falls, Canada.

A high school student from the Niagara Region ran by me as he entered to listen to the keynote speaker. We both paused at the door to find a seat.  I said, “You look excited.” He responded, “Do you know who this is? This guy is a Makerspace and mind craft junky.  He makes his students do it in school.”  Apparently, I should have known about Eric. “Tell your story!” was Eric Sheninger’s final message in CONNECT 2015 keynote address.  During the presentation, Eric had done just that. As the principal of New Milford High School(NMHS) in New Jersey, he helped transform the learning culture of teachers and students, profoundly altering student success rate and performance using the deliberate and productive practice of technology.

Listen to Eric’s TEDx presentation as he explains his vision and the success of his school. 

CBS News, New York heard Sheninger’s story and was so impressed by NMHS' Makerspace program they produced new segments on the initative. Check out the CBS News segment on NMHS’s 

CBS News also explored NMHS’s pilot project on virtual learning.

Eric’s keynote touched on many of the education technology tools but his focus on the traits of leadership, trust and these traits’ connection to the confidence of taking learning and teaching risks by both teachers and students was his main theme.  His quote, “Pedagogy is the vehicle. Technology is the accelerator! ” was a powerful statement but his emphasis on trust to build this risk taking accelerated the use of the technology that lead to the success of his team.  So what I am saying is TAKE THE RISK!!!

I will conclude this Tech Corner with a few links.

Listen to what Eric has to say on Digital Leadership.

Eric’s website.
http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger/home

Eric’s blog:

http://esheninger.blogspot.ca/

 Eric talks about the brilliance of his team and particularly about New Milford High School’s visionary librarian, Laura Fleming. Laura has become a Library Media Specialist and is an enormous advocate for interactive multimedia technology and pedagogy.  Check out her blog, Worlds of Learning.

http://worlds-of-learning.com/

These are some incredibly innovative educators. I can definitely see why that high school student was so excited. Take the risk and share your story!

This concludes part 1 of CONNECT 2015.

If you have a story where technology has helped increase a teaching or learning goal and would like to share it with us.  If so please contact me at: willjlegge65@gmail.com

Till next time,

Bill

Kahooting with Your Class

Gamification of a class subject can increase motivation and fun in your class. It can take a lot of effort and planning to develop and although I recommend the effort I understand the time constraint. Kahoot is a quick and easy method to add a little Gamification into your classroom and fun way to assess your students’ needs.

Colleen Glover, NOVA’s math and science teacher, introduced Kahoot to me. I have heard or played with many different web sites that engage with the creation of multiple-choice questions, polls, and assignment questions but Colleen’s enthusiasm about Kahoot compelled me to take a closer look.

Read what Kahoot says about Kahoot!

The greatest testimonial is from the students. I witness students that are motivated to work so that they can play the Kahoot trivia. The teacher assesses their content knowledge but more importantly the student does as well and the student monitors their score so does the teacher creating dialogue about their successes and obstacles.

Listen to what two of Colleen’s math students had to say.

Kahoots is a new and wonderful new edition to the Gamification landscape. Playing  games is a great way to trick students into learning…..shhhhh.

Maybe you have a story where technology has helped increase a teaching or learning goal and would like to share it with us.  If so please contact me at:

wlegge@nfsb.qc.ca

Till next time,

Bill