3D Printing:
When I first heard about 3D printing, I thought it was only for high school students in affluent schools. Boy was I wrong! What I love about 3-D printing is the ability to create something and have an end product that can be held and is not confined to a piece of paper. Students could use 3-D printers to create artifacts from digs around the world, print miniature aqueducts when studying ancient Rome, and print models of tropical plants so the parts can be compared to indigenous plants. To embrace creativity, students could write descriptive paragraphs for imaginary creatures. They could then design the creature using a program like Tinkercad and print out a model of their creation. 3-D printing is truly applicable to all areas of study!
Coding:
Who wouldn't be in favor of teaching our students something that's going to help them be better thinkers and problem solvers? I think it's great that coding offers us another way to get students to work on something and then have to go back and fix it. I'm always a fan of good old 'trial and error'; but I find that unless there's a big reward in the end, my students often give up too easily. Coding would offer that reward! Can you imagine how excited they would be if they could get a little robot to move by themselves? Now, that's empowering. I'm excited to the opportunities that we have available for us in teaching. The games and toys are mentioned in Cool Products for Teaching Kids How to Code look like they would be fun for even the youngest children.
Robots:
Okay, now robots are cool! Who doesn't love Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, Johnny 5, R2D2, C-3PO, and WALL*E? However, they're not real, right? Wrong! These totally awesome creations are making their way into our lives. Now, they aren't not the famous ones that we see on television and the big screen, but they are impacting our lives in real ways.
I would love to have my own Musio to talk to and interact with. He is just too adorable. He was created to interact with students trying to learn a new language, and that is a wonderful idea. Musio also reacts to what he hears and formulates conversation, giving a person much needed feedback with the fear of judgement. Teachers always struggle to find enough time for each student. Robots could eventually help teachers provide differentiation for students. Students could practice basic conversation or practice vocabulary.
Citations:
Tahnk, J. ( April, 2015). Cool products for teaching kids how to code [The Huffington Post]. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeana-lee-tahnk/neat-products-for-teachin_b_7138030.html
Great suggestions with 3D printing. Although I concur that any school could have this option, I can't help but think of the problems 3D printing also comes with. All I can think of is the chronic breakdowns and servicing our simple copy machines go through on an almost daily basis. Also, the cost of the materials to print in 3D. True, the base cost isn't that high, but the maintance?!?!? Just something I've thought about.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how much the maintenance would be as well. It can't be cheap! :)
DeleteGreat thoughts on these tools! I love the creative writing twist to the 3D printer. I agree about the instant gratification of the coding. Although instant gratification is not the exact phrase I'm looking for - kids do see results immediately in today's world through video games and snapchat, etc. Coding is more complicated than that - it provides feedback but makes the kids really think and work. I also agree with the above comment about the cost of printer maintenance. It's true - our copier and laminator are always needing service, I can't imagine what it would cost to service a 3D printer!
ReplyDeleteI love that you included robots that students TOTALLY identify with and love from the big screen! I think, of the three different types of tech. robots would be the most engaging and gratifying. Using these types of tech. to teach critical thinking strategies, problem solving skills, and cause/effect make learning a deeper, more meaningful (and fun) experience.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read and watched the video of Musio...I immediately thought of the TV commercial with "Alexa". the home robotish, device you can talk to and that can talk back and give you information, complete simple tasks etc. I think it might be Alec Baldwin in the commercial?
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed how far we have come. Even siri and on my computer Cortana seem to want me to talk to them and get their help! I can only imagine the smarter and more advanced and experienced "kids" become the amazing things robots will be able to do in the future. Not to be controversial here but I was very shocked this week to hear of a robot being used in the police standoff in Dallas. I am amazed at the technologies that are already here now!
I love your STEAM concept with the 3-D printer. Incorporating writing into the project once again enhances comprehension skills. Coding is such a challenge but with Minecraft, and Angry Birds Coding, it is teaching generations not to give up and that making mistakes are apart of life!
ReplyDeleteMusio is super cool thanks for sharing. I had never heard of it before and I can completely see students that would rather talk to Musio in different languages than have to do so in front of their peers. There are so many different robots out there and the technology for them is definitely continuing to advance. Hopefully, their price will continue to come down as well.
ReplyDeleteI admit I've really begun to love 3-D printing, too! You are right about holding something in your hand that you have designed. Dare I say this could bring back some hands-on problem-solving skills? Maybe in high-end production at least.
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