Educational Resources & Tech Tools 07/14/2015

• Making the Most Out of Teacher Collaboration | Edutopia

  • Even though I might be overwhelmed with paperwork, planning and preparing, I need to be with other teachers, not by myself.
  • Secondly, I would observe as many teachers as possible, and seek out the ones that I would like to emulate, regardless of the academic discipline in which they teach.
  • Fourthly, rather than wracking my brain for answers that others have already solved, I would share my frustrations, with these colleagues and get the answers I need quickly so I can go on to other important matters.
  • I would have to be prepared.

• STEM Curriculum Resources by Dr. Wesley Fryer

  Lots of resources here for STEM with a focus on fourth and fifth grade.

  tags: STEM STEAM Resources maker

• Gamify Searching Google Drive | Teacher Tech

  tags: Google_Drive google GAFE gamification pd professional development

• 7 Apps for Student Creators | Edutopia

  tags: iPad apps tech tools maker creation creativity

  • Students who are "making" to demonstrate their learning can produce content that is shareable and valuable. Their creations can be geared toward a specific audience and viewed outside of the classroom. The sense of purpose that students have as creators can be leveraged to increase engagement and get learners of all ages excited about content.

• 8 Design Steps for an Academic Makerspace -- THE Journal

  Lists 8 things to consider when designing a makerspace for YOUR school. Purpose, People, Curriculum, Equipment, Location, Funding, Set-up, Promotion

  tags: makerspace maker maker movement STEAM STEM

  • Part of planning will be deciding which tools to support.
  • Safety is important, too, so you must also budget for goggles, gloves, aprons, lab coats and a fire extinguisher.
  • "Makerspaces are increasingly being looked to as a method for engaging learners in creative, higher-order problem-solving through hands-on design, construction, and iteration," the report noted.
  • "Also, an area to display student projects is important," he said. It helps the students develop a sense of pride.
  • "Also, unless its purpose is aligned with school culture and values, it will not succeed,"

  • Setup: Jarowski said many people ask if a makerspace is a classroom or a workshop. His answer is that it should be both, or a synthesis of the two. But he said several considerations should go into the physical setup.

      
     
    • You should have both high-tech and low-tech areas, and clean and messy areas, with separate workstations for different types of activities.
     
    • Don't carpet the space because carpet is hard to clean, he said.
     
    • Make sure you include whiteboards so students can work on problems together.
  • First, make sure it is clear to you and the school why you are building a makerspace: It should be for the promotion of hands-on learning and collaboration,
  • You must make decisions about its scope.
  • It is important to showcase student projects, prototypes and designs, he said. Keep cameras around to document their efforts and include them in the social media and blog of the school.
  • Involve students in every step of the planning,"
  • What makes it an academic makerspace rather than an adult space, Jarowski said, is that it motivates children to discover new skills and knowledge.

• Three Tools Students Can Use to Create 3D Models Online

  This site summarizes how three different tools are used to create 3D models. Tools include: 123D Design, 3DTin, and Tinkercad.

  tags: 3dprinting 3D maker

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.