Innovation, Education Technology, 3D printing in the classroom and beyond.
March 16, 2016
This week I am preparing to speak at the CUE (Computer Using Educators) conference in Palm Springs. I’m getting excited about the opportunity, and I decided I wanted to know what my 4th graders thought about having a 3D printer in the classroom. I had them write a response to a writing prompt today, and what […]
March 22, 2015
My students have had a good time learning about 3D printing this year. In fact, many of them want to get a printer for their home. One of my students got a 3D Doodler for Christmas (the world’s first 3D pen). He brought it into class shortly after the break, but we were focused on […]
February 19, 2015
I introduced the microscope project to my class some time ago and I was really excited about it. That project has languished due to other pressing projects. However, we have not given up and I am happy to report that we have printed our first original microscope. Of course, you rarely get it right on […]
January 10, 2015
This has been a really fun week with regard to education technology in my classroom. It was just one of those weeks where things have fallen together. It started with Wednesday’s writing prompt in which I asked the students which tools they would bring with them if they were going to be spending time on a space station. They […]
January 1, 2015
HOW DID I MISS THIS!? I’ve mentioned before how I am excited to download and print the files that have been printed on the International Space Station. I was looking for the site where the files will eventually be available again when I came across Future Engineers. The website introduces a contest for students in K-12 […]
December 18, 2014
We are in the last week of school before winter break and my students are ready for it. Let’s be honest, so am I. The week before any break is always an interesting time. This week we have taken a trip to the ballet to watch a couple of our students perform in The Nutcracker, […]
December 4, 2014
At the beginning of the year I came across an article about a group of scientists who made microscopes with a 3D printer. Their design was simple. A small clip with a glass bead in it that fits over the camera of a smartphone or tablet. The size of the bead determines the strength of the […]
November 20, 2014
Twitter can be a really good learning tool. I’ve known that for awhile, and I have learned much from my own Twitter account. I have even used it as a learning tool in some college classes that I have taught, but I have avoided it in my fourth grade class. That has changed this year. […]
November 6, 2014
My students are in the midst of making mockumentaries on the 3D printed insects that they have “discovered” in our classroom ecosystem. It has been nice teaching this for a second year in a row. Teachers always do it a bit better after the first time. This year I also have the benefit of a […]
October 9, 2014
One of the best things about maker education or education technology is how they can push kids who are used to having school come easy to them to a place where they have to work. Nobody likes to be frustrated and too much frustration will make a person want to quit. But it is those […]