Blog post:Failure and Growth Mindset (a video not just for understanding the importance of failure but allowing us to reflect on our own attitude towards failing – do we shutdown or retry?
In PBAS STEM 1 – What is STEM and what does it look like? it is clear that while STEM projects can be enhanced by expensive high-level technologies STEM does not have to rely on these technologies to be successful (see the Year 2 STEM project video). The focus of STEM should always be on making connections between STEM subjects, challenging students, testing ideas and creating innovative solutions to real and complex problems. The idea of purchasing a range of expensive technologies and then assuming these make a good STEM program is a mistake. It is important to consider and understand how each piece of technology can support STEM at PBAS. How can it foster curiosity, problem-solving, creativity, trial and error and innovation?
PBAS already has a range of technologies including iPads, MacBooks, CAD, computer suites, robotics, Bee Bots, tech machinery and tools and standard science and maths technologies that have always supported our programs. I have put together a selection of videos that show a range of technologies for us to:
consider developing further, for example, Lego robotics and Bee Bots and
consider purchasing as new technologies to PBAS.
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi School Projects
Pakuranga College using UPBox 3D Printers
Roland Stika Printer
PicoBoards and Scratch
Creating a gaming console with Picoboard and Scratch
The previous STEM post (12th September) discussed what STEM was and how it could look at a classroom level. You can read this post here. In this STEM post I want to discuss the IT spaces in our school.
A range of discussions have occurred during this year specifically about redefining the spaces we have dedicated to IT. This has mostly occurred at leadership and within the Teaching and Learning SIP group. What is needed now is the input of all staff who have a stake in using these spaces and ideas about how they could service the learning needs of our students more effectivley.
The ideas in this post are just that, ideas. Nothing is final and everything is up for discussion. Including the obvious one (as you will see below) – do we need a canteen?
Below is a plan that shows the current Year 12 room, Computer Suite 1 and the canteen. The plan includes the following redevelopments:
Computer Suite 1
The wall between computer suite 1 and the canteen is removed creating better use of the hallway (dead space). This would allow for two robotics tables to be included in the work space (one 3×1.6m and one 3x1m)
Storage can be created below the robotics tables to keep robotics equipment. This equipment is currently kept in tubs on the floor of the tech room.
Two LED screens (strategically placed) that show what is on the main teaching screen. This supports students who are the furthest away from the main screen allowing them to clearly see what is being discussed or shown to the class.
Whiteboard walls. To the right of the main screen create a whiteboard wall that is a 3.5m long for use by the teacher or groups of students as a planning space to share ideas.
Year 12 Room
The year 12 room becomes computer suite 2. This helps to centralise our computing facilities while providing an extra space (storeroom attached) for the storage of IT equipment including printer cartridges, materials for 3D printers and decal machines, paper, maker space materials and computing components used for building and designing and Bee Bots. This storage room while not in a brilliant position alleviates the need to have storage taking up space in the IT teaching areas.
The wall between the two suites would have a 3-5m window installed allowing students and teachers to be visible (mostly) regardless of which room they were in. It would also provide a feeling of a more open space. This window may also have the ability to be opened (sliding panels).
A new entrance door for this room would mean that classes would not need to enter the new suite 2 via suite 1.
Canteen
Remove all internal walls and relocate the switchboard (currently on one of the centre walls in the canteen). This would create an 8x5m classroom space.
A classroom that has a flexible furniture arrangement. The tables shown in the image have 4 height adjustments so potentially all year levels could access the room, the tables can also be manipulated to change the seating configurations depending on group sizes and task requirements (each table has 2 castors for easy movement). One or two flip tables may also be considered as a way of creating more floor space when not needed but available to be used if a bigger class needed the space.
This classroom could be a Maker Space. Like the current primary wet area is used for students to build and create this maker space could be a place where students can come together to use, and learn to use materials as well as develop creative projects. The important idea is that it is a place that can be used for a range of activities with changing and flexible educational goals and creative purposes. Typically the space will; 1. Foster play, exploration and group learning, 2. Encourage collaborative learning where educators and students pool their skills and knowledge and share in the tasks of teaching and learning, 3. Develop a culture of creating as opposed to consuming. Two immediate examples of learning that come to mind are the school’s Bee Bots and PicoBoards (used with Scratch programming software). Many great kits and resources are available now to help schools develop effective maker spaces.
Whiteboard walls. Depending on what was most suitable creating whiteboard walls would allow for student planning, explaining and discussion of ideas.
Green screen technologies on the MacBooks and iPads provide students with opportunities to produce great videos. Paint a wall in this room green (floor to ceiling). Create a moveable green floor panel that could be stored elsewhere but brought in when students required it.
This classroom could potentially be home to some new technologies the school is considering. These technologies include 3D printers , a decal printer and laser cutter. There is an alcove in the bottom right of the canteen space which could house the decal printer and 3D printers. Depending on our technologies and the space available it is possible that the 3D printers could be placed in suite 1.
The x’s on the plan indicate a computer.
It would be great to have staff voice their opinion in the comments section to help generate discussion which will help this process move forward. A chance to discuss this in a staff meeting will also occur.
This is the first in a series of posts that will help us to have discussions about STEM and how we can develop this area at Port Broughton Area School. By the end of 2016 I hope every teacher involved in STEM based subjects R-10 can not only answer the following question but feels confident and supported to implement their answer.
In 2017 what STEM project will I undertake with my students?
So what is STEM?
The STEM approach to teaching and learning gives students the opportunity to work on challenging problems and projects.
It makes students aware of the connections between science, technology, engineering and maths and the importance of each to successfully solving problems in the real world.
It’s about a range of staff collaborating to show students the connections, for example a Year 5/6 STEM project could involve Paul contributing perspectives from maths and science while Tim provides expertise to support students with design and digital technologies.
Students experiment, use old and new technologies, test ideas and make and create innovative solutions to real and complex problems.
Real depth is given to STEM projects when partnerships are formed with local industries within the community.
STEM will look different across every class at every school.
Students identify needs and opportunities, visualise and generate ideas, plan and develop solutions and evaluate products and processes.
Information about what STEM is was provided by Jim Goodall, Maitland Area School.
What can STEM look like in the classroom?
Year 2 STEM Project
2015 ACARA STEM Connections Merici College, Canberra
Kings School Student Project
Bee Bot Art Project – This is an adult project but it does not take much imagination to see how this could be applied to a Year 1/2, 3/4 or 5/6 class. Design a piece of art created by Bee Bots!
In her Year 1/2 class Ange works with her students to develop a learning goal each term. These are laminated and placed on the student desks and referenced regularly through the term.
Ange helps the students to keep focussed on their goals by having students record each time they do something that helps them work towards achieving their goal.
She also hands out “Goal Striver of the Week” awards to help keep students attention on their goals and provide positive reinforcement.
While Ange spends considerable time and effort working with her students to reach their goals she also shares her own goals with students. Ange discusses her goals with students and models the process of working towards a goal. It helps to show students that working towards a goal is hard and does not always go smoothly, even for adults.
What Ange is doing is an excellent example of how teachers can model the behaviours they expect from their students.
Mount Barker High School – Positive Education. How one school is using diagnostic tools to measure students’ wellbeing and how teachers are using this data to improve student wellbeing. Read the full case study and find additional resources at http://www.all-learning.org.au/resour… .
It is important that students with reading difficulties receive support to access written text. A great way to support students with reading difficulties is to set up their iPad or MacBook to convert text to speech. This does not replace the need to learn to read but is a way to break down a barrier while students are developing their reading skills.
There are times when it is important and necessary for students to access content in a timely manner so they can get on with their learning. This can't be done if a student with reading difficulties is required to sit and read large chunks of text.
In term 1 Alison worked with the Year 5/6 Spanish class to create Spanish/English bilingual books.
The unit of work was titled las vacaciones – Que te gusta hacer? or holidays – What do you like to do?
Students learnt lots of pass time activities in Spanish such as dancing, playing sport, swimming, singing etc. They learnt how to say whether they like doing those activities or not – me gusta (I like) or no me gusta ( I don’t like).
The students assessment task was to design a bilingual ebook suitable for a preschool aged child titled What do you like to do? Que te gusta hacer? The books required a repetitive sentence throughout “do you like ………..? using the various activity words that they had learnt during the term. The book needed to be colourful with large font suitable for a young child. The text was required to be in Spanish and English with audio also in Spanish and English.
At the end of term 1 the Year 5/6 students shared their books with the Reception/Year 1 class.
This task addresses TfEL Domain 4 Personalise and connect learning.
Element 4.3 apply and assess learning in authentic contexts
- Ensures demonstration of learning to real audiences (Reception/Year 1 class)
Element 4.4 communicate learning in multiple modes
- Encourages the use of a range of media for communicating learning (communicating through an ebook - this was something new and different to previous methods of communicating learning)
- Engages learners in practical activities to develop understanding (creation of an ebook)
