EdTech

9th Grade STEM Students Design and 3D Print Propellers

Jessa Henderson

John Hammons‘ 9th grade Engineering Exploration I students digitally designed propellers using Autodesk Inventor software. Students printed their designs with a 3D printer and then added the printed propellers to cars the class had previously built. Through trial and error, students were able to experience first-hand how each propeller’s design impacted the movement of the car. Suggestions for propeller improvement could then be made based on observations during the trial runs.

This hands-on exploration with digital design and 3D printing is a great example of real world application in the classroom. Students are not only creating objects that they’ve imagined, they are developing problem solving skills that will be useful well beyond TC Williams High School. Keep it up Engineering Exploration I students! Great job!

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ACPS Students Participate in #STUTECH2015

Kyle Dunbar

On Saturday, January 31st, two George Washington Middle School students presented at an international, student-led virtual conference about technology in education. The STCLogoStudent Technology Conference 2015 included presentations and participants from around the world. GW students Jenny Martinez and Mikaela Pozo authored and presented a session called “Is Google Drive For You?” These seventh-grade students gave their presentation in both English and Spanish. Attendees from the Philippines, Ukraine, the Bahamas and many cities in the United States were very impressed with the girls’ knowledge about Google Drive. Watch a recording of their presentation.

Students met during their lunch to select a topic for the conference, propose a session and finally, to prepare their presentation. They wanted to present about Google Drive because they feel that this technology has had the biggest impact on their learning in school. All secondary ACPS students have access to an ACPS Google Drive account. Jenny and Mikaela created their presentation in Google Drive using the Google Slide feature. This allowed them to revise and edit in real time. It also gave them an example of the usefulness of Google Drive for their presentation!

0131151051aNot many kids are willing to come to school on a cold, wintry Saturday morning, but these girls were excited to share what they know with the world. Jenny and Mikaela used a product called Blackboard Collaborate to web conference with attendees from around the world. The girls logged in, tested their video feed and microphone, uploaded their slides and began their presentation. It was exciting to watch students and teachers log in from around the world. Jenny and Mikaela were able to explain how Google Drive has impacted them as well as answer questions from participants about how Google Drive works. The session was very well received and and the girls are planning on presenting at the conference again next year!

Apps, Robots and Tablets oh my! -Jen Ushe

Izora

DSC_0182Jen Ushe wanted to change things up for her STEM Engineering Classes by using stations with her students. Additionally, Jen wanted to integrate technology into this lesson.  Jen’s solution:  QR Codes, Robotics Apps, and Google Forms!  First, Jen pushed out directions for students via the Amplify Class Feed and directed them to download QR Droid from the Amplify Market.  Students followed the directions on their tablets and then broke into small groups for the stations portion of the lesson.  Each station featured two QR Codes created using QR Stuff.

Students scanned the first QR code with their tablet’s QR Droid code reader and the QR code took the student to the Google Play Store for the required apps.  Students then downloaded the app that they would use for the particular station activity.  Her students worked in the app, DSC_0165following the directions that had been previously shared via the tablets.  After completing the work, students scanned the second QR code, which took them to an Exit Ticket in the form of a Google Form so that Jen could assess students’ progress.

The students enjoyed scanning the QR codes and moving around the classroom to complete the various activities.  Students were on task, engaged, and motivated to participate.  We heard several student comments expressing how much fun they were having in class today!  For this stations activity, Jen used Code Academy and the Lightbot app.  Additionally, she had students view a YouTube video and then respond using the Google Form.  The fourth station required students to create a program which would allow their robots to draw a line.  Jen followed up this lesson by having students DSC_0178respond via Piazza, an online newsfeed and discussion board tool.  Students responded to the question posed by Ms. Ushe and also to each other in order to build collaborative practices.  This was a terrific lesson and the students had a blast!