Daniel-Mickel Innovative Teaching & Learning Application
Background Information
My 7th and 8th grade classes are evolving into elective classes so that the 8th grade class will not build on information from the 7th grade class any longer. This will require a major rewrite of my curriculum and provides a great opportunity for a major new project such as the Hummingbird Robots.
We do have Lego Robotics kits which are wonderful. They are being used by the 6th grade elective students all year long. I can manage to use them with my 7th and 8th graders only at the beginning of the year when the robots have not been heavily modified by the 6th graders. Also the focus of the Hummingbird kits can be very different from the Lego Robotics, as you will see.
We do have Lego Robotics kits which are wonderful. They are being used by the 6th grade elective students all year long. I can manage to use them with my 7th and 8th graders only at the beginning of the year when the robots have not been heavily modified by the 6th graders. Also the focus of the Hummingbird kits can be very different from the Lego Robotics, as you will see.
1. Description of the project.
I envision the end product of this project to look like these examples below. Please click on the links and explore.
Robotic Dog - I realize that this is an adult quality project, but this is exactly my vision for this project. The kids already learn some Photoshop and Scratch game programming. We can design our robot in Photoshop (or similar), print out the layers in coloring book format, cut them out and connect them back together. Then we can program the robot with Scratch which we will already know. In addition to practicing design and programming we will also be learning some electronics and mechanics (or you could say electrical and mechanical engineering!).
Examples from Hummingbird Site - Browse these examples as long as you would like. Note that these type of robotic creations appeal to girls as well as boys.
I would anticipate that the project would last approximately three to four weeks from design to completion of programming. Remember that I have new groups of students three times a year so these kits would not be on the shelve for very long between uses.
It would be wonderful if this could be a collaboration between art and technology, but I haven't figured out how that could work in the schedule. Any ideas?
My students would be impacted in the same way that the "maker movement" is impacting people all over the country, if not the world. According to Wikipedia (Forgive me for not citing properly; time is short.) the "maker culture' emphasizes learning-through-doing (constructivism) in a social environment. Maker culture emphasizes informal, networked, peer-led, and shared learning motivated by fun and self-fulfillment." According to one of the articles Wes just sent out "Allowing learners to struggle will actually help them learn better, according to research on “productive failure” . . . " My kids will definitely be making and they will definitely be struggling. This will not be an easy project. However I think they will be proud of what they have accomplished in the end.
Also, I believe this project will excite the interest of more girls than traditional computer science type project. Hopefully it will encourage more girls to continue their learning into high school. In fact, I hope it will encourage all students regardless of their gender to take additional computer science courses. According to a recent US News and World report article three of the top ten "best careers" were computer science careers (positions 1, 2, & 9). Note that this is best overall, not just highest salary.
Robotic Dog - I realize that this is an adult quality project, but this is exactly my vision for this project. The kids already learn some Photoshop and Scratch game programming. We can design our robot in Photoshop (or similar), print out the layers in coloring book format, cut them out and connect them back together. Then we can program the robot with Scratch which we will already know. In addition to practicing design and programming we will also be learning some electronics and mechanics (or you could say electrical and mechanical engineering!).
Examples from Hummingbird Site - Browse these examples as long as you would like. Note that these type of robotic creations appeal to girls as well as boys.
I would anticipate that the project would last approximately three to four weeks from design to completion of programming. Remember that I have new groups of students three times a year so these kits would not be on the shelve for very long between uses.
It would be wonderful if this could be a collaboration between art and technology, but I haven't figured out how that could work in the schedule. Any ideas?
My students would be impacted in the same way that the "maker movement" is impacting people all over the country, if not the world. According to Wikipedia (Forgive me for not citing properly; time is short.) the "maker culture' emphasizes learning-through-doing (constructivism) in a social environment. Maker culture emphasizes informal, networked, peer-led, and shared learning motivated by fun and self-fulfillment." According to one of the articles Wes just sent out "Allowing learners to struggle will actually help them learn better, according to research on “productive failure” . . . " My kids will definitely be making and they will definitely be struggling. This will not be an easy project. However I think they will be proud of what they have accomplished in the end.
Also, I believe this project will excite the interest of more girls than traditional computer science type project. Hopefully it will encourage more girls to continue their learning into high school. In fact, I hope it will encourage all students regardless of their gender to take additional computer science courses. According to a recent US News and World report article three of the top ten "best careers" were computer science careers (positions 1, 2, & 9). Note that this is best overall, not just highest salary.
2. & 3. Concrete steps and approximate timetable.
I would like to start working on this as soon as I get approval. I would buy one kit initial and thoroughly test it before purchasing the remainder of the kits. Then I would write a lesson plan and collect materials. The bulk of the work would be completed this summer. I would first actually use the kits with my classes around the middle of October. I have no idea how many hours this is going to take. I only know that it is going to be a significant amount because, in addition to everything else, I want to work out some examples of simple machines (levers, pulleys, etc. to inspire the kids.
I addition to this project I am going to have to redo or re-arrange the whole 7th and 8th grade curriculum and I will be attending a Scratch conference at MIT. So I am pretty much going to be working all summer.
I addition to this project I am going to have to redo or re-arrange the whole 7th and 8th grade curriculum and I will be attending a Scratch conference at MIT. So I am pretty much going to be working all summer.
4. Costs of project.
The Kits
An individual kit costs $199 and would be reusable of course. There are small discounts for volume purchases but there is also shipping and handling so each kit will cost right at $200 plus tax. Click here to go to the site for all the details. It would be ideal for the students to work in groups of two. Assuming I have two classes of 8th graders as I do now then I would need 12 kits at current class sizes plus one kit for me so 13 total. So the cost of the kits would be $2600 plus tax. I have spoken to Sarah Bell about also using these kits for a summer camp starting in 2015. She has agreed to pay for from $500 to $1000 of the total amount for the kits if I agree to lead the camp. Therefore the total amount for the grant for the kits would need to be between $1600 and $2100 (plus tax paid directly to the state) and would need to be negotiated with Ms. Bell.
Ongoing costs
There would be some ongoing costs for supplies such as glue sticks (assuming we can borrow the glue guns from art), art supplies and pen knives. I have not priced any of that out however I am sure there would be additional costs. I would ask the students to bring in the foam board or cardboard boxes, etc. that they would want to use.
Total project costs
Kits: $1600 - $2100
Tax: $156 (Paid directly to the state. This is assuming the tax rate is 6%. Don't know how you want to handle that))
Ongoing costs: $200 - $300 would cover it for a while I think. I am totally guessing on this.
My time: ?? - Obviously preparing for this will take require a significant investment in time this summer. A financial incentive would be appreciated.
An individual kit costs $199 and would be reusable of course. There are small discounts for volume purchases but there is also shipping and handling so each kit will cost right at $200 plus tax. Click here to go to the site for all the details. It would be ideal for the students to work in groups of two. Assuming I have two classes of 8th graders as I do now then I would need 12 kits at current class sizes plus one kit for me so 13 total. So the cost of the kits would be $2600 plus tax. I have spoken to Sarah Bell about also using these kits for a summer camp starting in 2015. She has agreed to pay for from $500 to $1000 of the total amount for the kits if I agree to lead the camp. Therefore the total amount for the grant for the kits would need to be between $1600 and $2100 (plus tax paid directly to the state) and would need to be negotiated with Ms. Bell.
Ongoing costs
There would be some ongoing costs for supplies such as glue sticks (assuming we can borrow the glue guns from art), art supplies and pen knives. I have not priced any of that out however I am sure there would be additional costs. I would ask the students to bring in the foam board or cardboard boxes, etc. that they would want to use.
Total project costs
Kits: $1600 - $2100
Tax: $156 (Paid directly to the state. This is assuming the tax rate is 6%. Don't know how you want to handle that))
Ongoing costs: $200 - $300 would cover it for a while I think. I am totally guessing on this.
My time: ?? - Obviously preparing for this will take require a significant investment in time this summer. A financial incentive would be appreciated.
5. & 6. Intern and accountability.
Although I am sure that I will drag Drew into this somehow this summer, but I don't think I need to make it official. I would ask Melissa Hughes to be my accountability partner.
In submitting this proposal, I understand that , if offered a grant, I must either (a) commit to substantial completion of the project or (b) decline the grant. Allowance for unforeseen circumstances may be made in consultation with the Headmaster or Director of Studies. Further, I agree to share the project's concept and outcome with faculty groups as requested.
Karen L. Polstra 3/14/14
Karen L. Polstra 3/14/14