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!