So, the time has come to showcase what we have been creating, making, tinkering, and playing with after school. I am very excited to have my Makers demonstrate and teach others about what the Makers Movement is. We will be holding our Makers Faire during one of the Parent Teacher Conference evenings. All families and students in the district are welcome. In addition, I am reaching out to local businesses and organizations to build our community ties and welcome them into our school. My Makers are hard at work to finish designing or learning about the topic they will demonstrate. More to come after March 16.......
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Yes, I did say cassette player. As in the one that plays cassette tapes from the 80s. When I started the Makers Club,I asked for items to be donated from families. Those items could be paper towel rolls, markers, cotton balls, paper, glue, or old electronics. I had a family donate this cassette player that did not work. I put it aside and had forgotten about it until a student asked if he and a few friends could take it apart. "ABSOLUTELY," I said. The group tinkered with the stereo for a few club sessions. Just as we were cleaning up the group asked if they could plug it in and see if it works. This was that moment I envisioned when I wanted to begin a Makers Club-this group of students worked independently and self-driven to solve a problem. I provided the basic tools and they used the internet to investigate. I wish I had the moment video recorded when I plugged in the cassette stereo and IT WORKED! I was amazed and impressed with my Little Makers. The look of joy, accomplishment, and pride was priceless on their faces.
Wow, it is the 3D Craze. As soon as I discussed 3D printing, showed a few examples, and the program to design they were OFF! I introduced Tinkercad to the students as a starting point to design 3D objects. Tinkercad is nice because it has already created learning lesson where the user can walk themselves through understanding working in the 3D World. The learning lessons are great for me because I am not in a position to directly instruct this idea in class or after school during club (too may other students to supervise at the same time). However, as I mentioned the students ARE loving designing and printing. I do stop to help the students when they have design questions and we discuss how an object may not print well, but the basics are up to them to explore on their own. I can't wait to take this further with the students next year in a classroom setting! |
Mrs. Christine ChiodoI am a junior high teacher at Pontiac Junior High School. Archives
February 2019
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