Maker Mindset Day 3: Next Steps

This was our final day at NCCAT.  Our big goal for the day was to create a plan as to how we would use what we've learned.  Before we were given time to work on our plan, Jason had a couple of more tools to add to our toolbox:  iMotion and Doink.

Stop Motion with iMotion
Just like all of our activities from day 2, we were given a challenge.  Each team had to create a short stop motion clip of a coin being moved from one side of the hand to the other and doing fancy tricks.  We used the free version of the app iMotion.  The free version still allows you to do several seconds worth of video.  You just can't upload your own pictures.  You have to take pictures within the app.

This was simple to use.  I was a little trigger happy and took pictures before hands were out of the way, but aside from that it worked very easily.  This is something I really want to use with our students this year.  I have a couple of stop motion kits that work with the desktop computers.  Having this loaded on our iPads would increase the number of teams that could do this at once.

Green Screen with Doink
Our final challenge of the day was to create a green screen video with the Doink app using one of the buildings we created for Scraptown on day 1.  One of my teammates created a haunted house.  We decided to make a video using the ghost of the old lady who had lived there for our video.  To make it a little spookier, we used paper that had tiny green stripes running through it to give it a transparent look.  It turned out pretty cute.  I'll be sure and add it here.

We use green screen a great deal for projects in our makerspace.  We've created news reports, American Idol style video, recreated folk tales, battle scenes and puppet shows.  I started with the free version of the app Veescope Live.  It leaves a huge watermark on the video.  Our district purchased Doink apps for our iPads.  I like Doink better.  It provides you with more options.  I want to try adding drawn animations from the Doink Animations app to some of our videos this year.

My Plan For Makerspaces This Year
When you begin to plan a makerspace for your classroom or your school, one of the things that I've learned is that there is no single correct way.  Even before attending this session I learned that what works in your setting may not work in mine.  At my school, I had to work around schedules.  My solution became to work closely with teachers to tie makerspace activities and resources into units, projects, lessons or activities.

Teachers understood they didn't have to know how to use all of the tools we had, but they could provide students with the option to use them and I would be there to help.  That is my goal for this year, to collaborate with teachers to provide additional options for student projects and activities.  I'm going to be adding a makerspace section to our PCMS Learning Commons site to showcase the tools we have along with sample projects that have been created.

The teachers I partnered with last year already know what we can do and we can expand from there.  Those I didn't work with can see examples of what was done and can begin to branch out for themselves.  We've added a few new tools to our makerspace.  I've listed our resources below to hopefully provide you with some ideas.  I'll be highlighting the ones that are free or cost less than $50 per set to start.  There are so many ways to begin a makerspace that cost little to no money.

Scratch (free, but you need a computer) - Set up challenge stations to begin with and help students to use it to create more interactive projects.

Makey Makey (kits are approximately $50 on Amazon) - Set up challenge stations to begin with and help students to use it to create more interactive projects.

Doink Green Screen (App $5 and you need an iPad or mobile device)- Green screen videos have been a big hit!  Recreate historical scenes, news broadcasts from historical events, recreate stories, or student writing.  Holiday photos were a big hit at a family night we hosted at school.

iMotion and Stop Motion Animation (iMotion app free, need iPad or mobile device) Students can create really detailed videos with just pictures.  Add in Playdough or clay and students can create their own claymation movies to go with projects.

Minecraft (App approximately $5 and you need an iPad) I love seeing students use this with Social Studies projects.  I've see spectacular recreations of Roman Coliseums,  pyramids, historical buildings, monuments, villages and so much more.  I'm continuously amazed with how quickly students create masterpieces just using a bunch of cubes.

Basic Craft Supplies (cost depends upon what you need) Break out the popsicle sticks, string, glue, cardstock, paper plates, construction paper, scissors, glue and whatever else you can find.  These can be used for almost anything you can imagine from building a windmill or a house to dressing a paper doll for the historical time period or for the weather.  There are unlimited tie ins to every subject and grade level.

Robots (cost depends upon what you purchase) We have Spheros, CUE and Lego Mindstorm EV3 robots on hand.  There are really neat things you can do with Spheros in math.  I'm just learning the other two.  I'll be sure to add examples of how we use them this year.

Cricut ($200-$500 depending upon the model plus supplies) We have the Cricut Explore 1.  We've created decals and tshirts for teams and events.  I want to use it with our new sewing machine to cut material as well as use it for more paper projects.  Teachers have used this for class decor.

Sewing Machine ($100+ depending upon type of machine) We were fortunate to have a sewing machine purchased for our makerspace last year.  I'm anxious to see what students will make.  I can see them using it to create puppets, period clothing, and even craft items like pillows and aprons.

Tinkercad and 3D Printer ($300 - $3000 & up depending upon model plus materials) Students used the 3D printer a great deal to create artifacts for social studies projects.  We had some to use it in science to create models of objects they were studying.  You can find models of almost anything you want on Thingiverse, but I had students to create their own designs for their projects in Tinkercad.  They would find an image of what they wanted and then build their object based upon the image.

Arduinos ($20-$50 for basic kits on Amazon)  We started using these at the end of last school year.  Students learned to program motors to spin to bring projects to life.  I'm excited to see what students can create with them this year.

Character Animator (Part of Adobe Creative Cloud - approximately $360 per year for students at teacher per license) This is something I started playing with this summer.  Students use or create puppets made in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.  The import the image into Character Animator.  It uses lip sync and facial tracking technology and keystrokes to bring the puppet to life - moving the eyes, mouth, eyebrows and body.  Heads of Curriculum has some historical and literary puppets that can be used to recreate historical scenes - or students can create their own!

Google Expeditions (app is free need iPad or mobile device) Take students around the world or on Magic School Bus style field trips using this resources.  Students can use iPads or immerse themselves in the world with VR headsets and a mobile device.

These are the "big" project creation tools that we have.  We have other sets for students to tinker with like jewelry making, erector style sets, Bloxels, and whatever else I can dig up.  I usually set these out just for students to tinker with when they can.  Bloxels are another tool I want to dig a little deeper into this school year.  It looks like it has great potential!

I'd love to hear and see ideas of what you're doing in your makerspace.  Tag @misstizzy in your Tweets to be sure I don't miss them!

Maker Mindset Day 2 - It's All About That Tech

Day 2 of the NCCAT Maker Mindset session was all about technology.  We started the day with Scratch, moved to Makey Makey, on to Microbits and finished the day with Tinkercad.

Scratch
Our day began with Scratch.  Our trainer, Jason Lineberger, showed us a few things made with Scratch and showed us how to view the code they used to produce it.  Jason sets up his makerspace activities as a series of challenges.  Our first challenge was to make the sprite move left when we pressed the left arrow, right when we pressed right and up when we pressed up.  He showed us the basic move command.  Through trial and error we had to make it work.  Challenge 2 was to have the sprite move to center when we pressed the down arrow.  Challenge 3 was to have the sprite draw a line as it moved.  The final challenge was to have it draw a multicolored line that grew incrementally as it moved and could be cleared when you pressed the down arrow.

Playing around with Scratch in this manner helped me to better learn how to use it.  It also helped to learn that I could "look under the hood" of projects created by others to learn how they had written their code.  I want to set up a Scratch challenge station that has a series of quick programming activities students can complete in just a few minutes when they come to the library.  If they complete  "X" number of activities they can earn a badge for Scratch.  This will tie into and reinforce what they are learning in CTE classes as well.

Makey Makey
This was the tool I had most wanted to explore.  I have used Makey Makey with students and pre-made tools in scratch like the piano, PacMan, etc.  What I hadn't understood about Makey Makey is that you could use Scratch with Makey Makey to create your own programs.  Discovering that was probably my OMG moment of week!  Learning to program my own Makey Makey band and beginning to follow their Twitter feed has opened my eyes to all that I was missing.

I've since discovered you can make interactive posters, books, dioramas, and so much more.  I'm planning on using Makey Makey as a challenge station similar to my plan with Scratch.  There is a Makey Makey training session in December sponsored by the NC Science House that I really want to attend.  I know students can take this stuff and run with it, but I want to learn more for myself as well.

Microbits
Microbits remind me of a mini Arduino.  They have built in LEDs that you can control, respond to shaking (like for a pedometer), have buttons to input information and a whole lot more that I didn't learn about.  Our challenges were to make it light up with a design, switch between 2 designs, scroll text, create a pedometer and play rock, paper, scissors when you shake it.

Microbits use block coding similar to Scratch.  This along with the built in functions made it much more beginner friendly than the Arduinos we have.  Using the Arduino beyond blinking LEDs and spinning motors still intimidates me.  Microbits on the other hand were quick and easy to learn - mainly because I didn't have to connect everything to a breadboard or pins.

Microbits run between $15 and $25 depending upon where you find them.  I purchased one for myself so that I could try them out.  I can use this to help students begin to learn and understand the Arduinos.

Tinkercad and 3D Printing
Of all of the things we did today, I was most comfortable with Tinkercad.  This is free online software that can be used to create items to be printed on the 3D printer.  PCMS students used this tool to create the objects you've seen in some of my earlier posts.

Tinkercad can have a little bit of a learning curve.  I watched quite a few videos to help me learn how to move the screen to view the object at different angles, how to create holes and how to merge objects for printing.

A couple of group members mentioned they used the free online version of Google Sketchup.  I haven't played with that tool in quite a while.  Those in my group that struggled with Tinkercad found that Sketchup was easier.  I still finished me design in Tinkercad, but I'm definitely going to explore the use of Sketchup on our Chromebooks for the new school year.

When we use Tinkercad at school, students use their school Google account to login.  They create their item on their Chromebook and download the file.  I have students email their finished files to me along with the color of the filament they want to use.  This helps me keep track of workflow if I have several students creating projects.

We had several students design and create their own items for the 3D printer that weren't a part of projects.  One group of boys designed their own lures.  We printed them being sure to include loops for attaching fishing line and hooks.  They took them home and sanded, painted and attached hooks.  They would take pictures of them to show me the final product.  They would evaluate the results after a fishing trip or two, revise their design and want to print more.  I was pretty impressed with their ingenuity.

Expanding our Makerspace
Things like this Maker Mindset training really make me love what I do even more.  I get really excited when I think of ways students can use the tools we have as options for projects they do in their core content classes.  Every little thing I can learn will in turn help our students.  Who knows, one of the students I work with could become the next great inventor!

Maker Mindset Day 1

NCCAT

North Carolina has an awesome resource for educators called the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT).  It was created in 1985 as a result of the efforts from former state Teacher of the Year, Jean Powell.

NCCAT has two campuses at each end of the state:  Cullowhee and Ocracoke.  Each campus offers a wide variety of programs for teachers.  Teachers must apply and be accepted to attend.  The center provides housing and meals.  The remaining expenses must be paid by the school district or the teacher.  

I've attended two previous sessions at Cullowhee over the years.  One session was for special projects.  When I worked with Edenton-Chowan, our team of media coordinators went to work on digital resources many moons ago.  The second session I attended was part of a granted project that required us to attend a session at NCCAT.  Both sessions were phenomenal and provided us with the time and resources to meet our goals.  It was an amazing experience, one all NC teachers should take advantage of.

Maker Mindset

Since this is my self-proclaimed summer of renewal, I decided to take a look that the programs NCCAT had to offer to see if there was anything I wanted to attend.  The one that caught my eye was a Maker Mindset session August 6th - 9th.  Today was August 1st.  There are usually long waiting lists for all of the sessions, but I threw caution to the wind and sent in my application.  Much to my surprise, I received an email the next day telling me I'd gotten in.  I had to send in information immediately.  What I didn't know at the time was this session had had an extremely long waiting list and had been filled months ago, with others being turned away.  There had been a couple of cancellations the day I applied.  So, BAM!  I got in (on a wing and a prayer)!  I told them it was shear divine intervention.  I was meant to be at this session.  

Early Monday morning, I make the trek by ferry to Ocracoke.  I arrive at NCCAT, get settled into my room and make my way to our first session.  Jason Lineberger from Cleveland County Schools is our trainer for the week.

We go through information on the Maker Mindset.  Jason shares how he likes to set up makerspace activities as challenges for his students.  The challenges provide a little background:  the curriculum hook, the why or any information they need to get started.  He provides the materials and basically says, "Go."  So, we were off!

Challenge 1:  

Make a windmill to hoist a treasure chest from deep underground.

Background:  Students had been reading "The Cay".  They were told that a chapter had been ripped from the book where the characters were digging a well and came across a buried treasure. The chest was so deep they couldn't just haul it out.  Using items they had on the island, the characters built a windmill that would use a wench like action to lift the treasure up to the surface.  Students would have to write the missing chapter. To help them write the missing chapter students had to build their own windmill that would lift the treasure (a marble in a cup) off the ground and to the edge of the table.  We were supplied with a dowel rod, paper plate, cardstock, paperclip, table, rubber band, pipe cleaners, cup, masking tape, 2 marbles, thumbtack and string.  

Task:  Our team started with a pinwheel using the cardstock.  We tried to used the thumbtack to take it to the end of the dowel, but it wouldn't hold tight enough.  We noticed another group putting the dowel through the pinwheel so we did that.  To allow the dowel rod to turn we used tape on tape to create a space that wasn't sticky where the dowel would go, but held the ends to the table.  Trial and error showed us we needed several pieces to keep the windmill from flipping forward.  We made our basket out of the cup and pipe cleaner and secured the string to the dowel rod and cup.  The test came when we used a hair dryer to spin the windmill.  Our string wound quickly and we removed the "treasure" from the ground - Success!  

Challenge 1 Thoughts

I loved the tie in to Language Arts.  Setting up challenges based upon a book or story that students have read makes the perfect tie in.  I especially loved how this activity provided them with the background knowledge of how to build a windmill to complete their writing activity.  I could also see this very same activity fitting with "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind".

Challenge 2: Scraptown

Build any building you choose to place in scrap town.  Follow the scale that a floor is 2".  (Ex. a 3 story building would be 6 inches.

Task: Using the bevy of materials on hand, make a building.  There was most any general craft supply you could imagine on hand.  

Once we created our buildings we decided as a group where each should go.  "The library should go near the school."  "The fire department should go in the center of town."  "The popsicle stand should go near the beach."  We rationalized and moved things around as needed.  

Challenge 2 Thoughts

While this exact activity may initially be better for elementary, there were a few things we could add to make it more middle school friendly.  Here are some of the ideas:

1) Students would have to make buildings of a certain area or perimeter, or using specific geometric shapes.

2) Instead of a city, each section is a different biome with a river running through the center.  Students set it up to match their biome.  Then they provide a guided tour down the river of the as the character travels through.  

3) Use a map of the city or area.  Students recreate their house and place in the correct location on the map.  They measure to see their closest and farthest away classmate.

That was Day 1 of Maker Mindset.  In Day 2 we cover Scratch, Makey Makey, Microbits and Tinkercad.