The ABC and local community came together in a full scale celebration of STEAM. The projects were wonderful, and the energy crackled as the whole school, whole day event took centre stage across 3 different venues. The level of engagement and excitement was paramount, as student and staff presenters, and creative centre leaders from our school, as well as from around El Salvador, worked and interacted with students, staff, visitors and local dignitaries. Here are some of the preliminary photos from the event. The organisers of the event issue a huge thank you to the hundreds of people that made it all possible! We now look forward to STEAM Fest 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/48254552@N04/albums/72157662253275704
We have been using the 3doodler pen for the last few months with our 8th grade classes as well as in the Maker Club after school each week.
The 3Doodler Pen is a cost efficient tool that works wonders at inspiring students to design and create.
Some of the students have enjoyed it so much that they have brought a friend or two along to the club, and are coming everyday after school to work on their own projects.
It is fair to say that these kids are an inspiration to others. They have found something they love, are spreading the word to others and are creating projects of their own design.
Here are a some additional pictures of the work done by the Maker Club students (left) as well as the 3D Glasses created in ICT lessons (below).
If you look closely enough you will see that there are two different styles, depending on the template they chose to work with. On the left we have Harry Potter Glasses and on the right Hipster Glasses.
We have used our new 3Doodler Pens with our 8th grade in 3 lessons so far and have already learnt so much.
The pens, which can be purchased for under $100 are very student friendly, effective 3d printing devices. During the different lessons when the kids were introduced to them through a couple of short videos (I have embedded one just above this.), some models we had made and a brief talk about expectations the electricity in the air became almost overwhelming. The last time I saw kids so excited about a new tool was when I introduced my 8th graders, 8 years ago to then, Google SketchUp(now Trimble SketchUp).
The videos and explanations were punctuated by enthusiastic outbursts of "How cool!" "I want one!" and a variety of interesting interjections.
In practice the kids took to them right away. We gave them printed templates, and a few tasks written up in a Google Document, which also contains space for reflections, notes and images documenting their work.
These pens have proven to be a fantastic investment which will be used throughout the year, both in lessons and in our new Makerspace.
We will add updates and more images documenting the work, as the year progresses.
Welcome back to a new and exciting school year. There are many changes taking place in the LRC in 15/16. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the bigger changes with you.
Our first big change is the implementation of our new library system, Destiny by Follett.
This system provides students with a personal portal which will enable them to truly customise their library experiences.
We also have a large collection of new books both in hard copy along with a collection audio books by Amazon Audible. Students will be able to check out shortly.
While not new this year, our digital collection with Follett TumbleBookCloud is a great resource. We purchased the subscription last school year, which is updated and added to by Follett.
This service allows students to choose from hundreds of books including graphic novels, enhanced novels, ebooks, classic literature, national geographic videos, educator resources as well as audiobooks.
Students can access their Destiny and TumbleBookCloud options on the LRC website. Each class will also be given an orientation session on using Destiny, in tutor time, during the next few weeks.
The new Maker Space has been assigned a spot toward the back of the LRC by the Studio and Raspberry Pi computers. We are very excited about its launch, which will take place this Monday with our first drop in activity along and will run parallel to the launch of the new Maker Club.
Students can sign up for the club and they can also come along at breaks, or after school each week to take part in other activities. During the first activity, Binary Bracelets, students will learn a bit about the language of computers while making a personal chain or bracelet in binary.
Maker Space activities have even worked their way into 8th grade ICT Creative Carousels in the LRC. The students had their first lesson last week in which they began learning about tools, and used them to deconstruct old desktop computers.
Here are a few pictures from the lesson.
It is going to be a fantastic SY15/16 at the LRC. Do check back for regular updates!
