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THE LOWER SCHOOL TINKER LAB EXPERIENCE

THE LOWER SCHOOL TINKER LAB EXPERIENCE. DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL Bobbi Luster, Technology Specialist Judy Abernethy, Librarian/Media Specialist. Agenda. About Us Background What is technology? Tinker Lab projects What’s next?. Davidson Day School. Located north of Charlotte in Davidson, NC

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THE LOWER SCHOOL TINKER LAB EXPERIENCE

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  1. THE LOWER SCHOOL TINKER LAB EXPERIENCE DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL Bobbi Luster, Technology Specialist Judy Abernethy, Librarian/Media Specialist

  2. Agenda • About Us • Background • What is technology? • Tinker Lab projects • What’s next?

  3. Davidson Day School • Located north of Charlotte in Davidson, NC • Founded in 1999 • 2 year old program through12th grade • 550+ students • Growing school – plans to open new campus

  4. About us… • Bobbi Luster • 15+ years in analyzing new technologies • Master’s degree in Library & Information Science • Mother of 1st and 2nd graders at DDS • Current: DDS Technology Specialist • Judy Abernethy • 40+ years in private, public and faith-based education • Poet, writer • Daughter of NASA engineers; Mother of 2 doctors • Current: DDS Librarian, reading and math specialist

  5. Goals - Why are we here? • Share our story • Receive feedback to improve upon our successes • Get the independent school community to think about technology a little bit differently • Share Lower School-specific innovations that incorporates a wider view of technology

  6. Background

  7. Shifts occurred… • Turnover in the librarian/school media specialist role • More integration of technology within in the classroom • Tablets and/or laptops now in every lower school classroom • The school updated its mission statement • Vision starting to form for Lower School-only facility • Here’s what happened…

  8. A light bulb went off… • We met over the summer and created a program that incorporates library and technology classes together and broadens the typical school view of technology. • The Biblio-Tech / Tinker Lab was born…

  9. DDS Mission Statement • Davidson Day School is a diverse independent school that cultivates academic excellence through collaboration, creativity, and character development. We strive for our students to be: • Independent thinkers who articulate their ideas with confidence • Students who advocate for themselves and others • Engaged students who take intellectual risks • Critical thinkers who are enthusiastic problem solvers • Lifelong learners who chart their own paths in college and life • Respectful ethical citizens who are adept at addressing global challenges

  10. Our vision for Lower School Tinker Lab / Biblio Tech… • Provide students with instruction, tools and hands-on opportunities • Allow them to think of technology not only as something consumed on a device • Technology is also something they can create, invent, or re-invent. • Bringing concepts to life • Offer reflection time

  11. What is technology? The traditional “Information Technology” view… • Computers • iPads/tablets • iPhones • TVs • Digital cameras

  12. What is technology? The Tinker Lab view… • Technology is any invention including tools, machines, materials, and sources of power that make people’s work easier. Source: Discovery Education

  13. So…first things first…do you still have that cart and the computers? • YES! But… • We have migrated most of the computers to classrooms along with tablets that previously were dedicated to middle school students. • Goal is to, over time, more fully integrate technology instruction into the classroom so more time can be spent on hands-on broader technology initiatives.

  14. But now… • We strive to break our school year into the following technology categories: • Traditional computer-based lessons • Hands-on activities that help bridge the gap between virtual and physical creations. • New media activities And…we do so with as much integration between library and technology and classroom and technology as possible

  15. Library connections… • Character building through library/literacy activities: • Word of the Day • Comedy Corner • Author spotlight • Author visits • Book tie-ins – i.e. Cinderella; supporting Tinker Lab • Care and running of library by students

  16. So…give us an example: • 3rd and 4th Grades: • Work with science specialist to incorporate the introduction of electrical circuits. • Goals: • With basic understanding of circuits and access to materials, create a self-produced or team-based output. • In other words, what can you create? How can you collaborate? • In the Tinker Lab, we follow this path: • Basic circuits with AA batteries, light bulbs/holders, motors. What can you make? • Migrate to Squishy Circuits. What can you make? • Migrate to littleBits. What can you make?

  17. Basic Circuits

  18. Squishy Circuits

  19. littleBits

  20. 3rd/4th continued: • Through the process, we talk about product design, encouraging students to not only sketch their inventions, but also make sure they write down all of the tools and parts they used to make it.

  21. Peer Review

  22. 1st Grade – Excel Quilts Goals: • Technology Evolution: hand-made quilts vs. machine made • Introduce Microsoft Excel – concepts of columns, rows and cells • Read/discuss books that introduce quilting and character development lessons. • Create patterns, reinforcing the geometry lessons they are undergoing in math. • Have a physical representation of their creation

  23. Quilt Square examples

  24. Excel Wall Quilts

  25. 2nd grade • Work with 2nd grade classrooms to create a hardcover book based on their African animal projects. • Goals: • Introduce research skills and types of sources. • Weed out information to find the most interesting facts. • Integrate art, music and poetry, in cooperation with art and music specialists. • Create a podcast and/or CD to accompany the hardcover book.

  26. 2nd Grade • Cinderella • Read Cinderella books from around the world in library and create “magical” props in Tinker Lab • MakeyMakey • Photography & Literacy Workshop with The Light Factory

  27. Kindergarten • Integrate lessons on dinosaurs from the K classrooms into the Tinker Lab. • Goals: • Complete a hands-on project (Tinker Lab)/ intro to engineering. • Use a computer-based program to allow students to create their own dinosaur. • Read relevant/age-appropriate books to inspire students to create their own dinosaur.

  28. Evolution of Dino…

  29. Evolution of Dino…

  30. 5th & 6th • Mini-mester project • Square – concession stand • Blog/Web site/QR code • Videos/Trailers

  31. Where do we get our inspiration from? • Everywhere! • Re-inventing previous projects or adding on to projects. • Collaborating with teachers • Kids! • Other sources: • Make! Magazine – www.makezine.com • Instructables.com • MIT Media Lab • littleBits – www.littlebits.cc • MakeyMakey – www.makeymakey.com • University of St. Thomas (Squishy Circuits) - http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits • Kickstarter – www.kickstarter.com

  32. What’s next? • Some thoughts… • More lego incorporation for K-2 • Light Bright board • Scratch programming • Prezi • 3-D printer • Laser cutter • CAD for lower grades • Roominate • Raspberry Pi

  33. Thank you! Contact us: bluster@davidsonday.org OR jabernethy@davidsonday.org

  34. Appendix • Kindergarten • Christina Katerina & the Box, by Patricia Lee Gauch • Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo, by William Joyce • The Dragons are Singing Tonight, by Jack Prelutsky • The Night at the Museum, by Milan Trenc • KidPix

  35. Appendix • 1st Grade • The Quiltmaker’s Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau

  36. Appendix • 2nd Grade • Studentreasures Publishing Company • Audacity (podcasting) • Kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals • Sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes • MakeyMakey – www.makeymakey.com • The Light Factory – www.lightfactory.org

  37. Appendix • 3rd & 4th Grades • Squishy Circuits – University of St. Thomas http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/ • See AnnMarie Thomas’ Ted Talks video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M3Dow20KlM • littleBits – www.littlebits.cc • See Ayah Bdeir’s Ted Talks video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YguB-keZ4Tk • Doodles, Drafts and Designs / Smithsonian Libraries - http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/doodles

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