Tech Bytes
What's Happening in Tech@DCD!
New 3D Printers!
These printers are an upgrade from the MakerBot, which was a past 8th-grade class gift. We are so very grateful to the Advancement and Business Offices for helping with the upgrade process.
TinkerCAD is a great app for beginners who want to explore 3D design and printing. If you'd like to give it a try, stop by the Adams Lab or ask a 5th grader for a quick tutorial!
Skype a Scientist!
This month, 5th-grade science explored beyond our school walls as they participated in a video chat with Jesse Colangelo-Lillis, a microbiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder.
This video chat was part of the 5th-grade curriculum about ecology that has integrated many of our technology resources throughout the school year. Read more....
Robotics @ DCD
This week, a cohort of faculty engaged in professional development about integrating Lego robotics into our curriculum. We were led by Barbara Bratzel, from Tufts University, who literally wrote the book on Lego robotics in education.
From collecting data through motion sensors, to rewriting classic stories with a tech twist, the possibilities for robotics in the classroom are endless! Read more....
Just for Fun!
Check out this article to find out how The Way You Draw Circles Says A Lot About You. Then head over to Google's AI Experiments to give it a try!
Augmented Reality @ DCD!
AR is one form of IoT technology that superimposes digital imagery over our view of the real world. Think virtual reality without the goggles. It allows us to interact with objects, images, and in the case of this NYT article, Four of the Best Olympians, as You've Never Seen Them.
Sounds complicated? There are lots of fun ways to introduce AR in the classroom! Check out some of our favorite apps and tools below:
Blog post: What do DCD Kindergartners & US Olympians have in common?
After trying out the NYT augmented reality in Four of the Best Olympians As You've Never Seen Them, kindergarten and grade one learned how to animate their own artwork using the free Quiver app.
Blippar Brings Bulletin Boards to Life!
Using augmented reality, first grade designed an interactive display for their community interviews. After interviewing adults in the DCD community, they created paper mosaics of each adult and recorded a video about what they learned in the interviews. When you scan the mosaics with the Blippar app, their videos appear! Read more....
Give it a try:
1) Download the Blippar app: iOS or Android
2) In the app, click the settings gear on the top left.
3) Click on "Enter test code" and type: dcds
4) Scan the mosaic picture above.
Merge Cubes
Merge cubes provide a fun way to interact with an augmented reality environment. When students scan these soft cubes with one of the many Merge apps, the cube comes to life!
From exploring the solar system to completing logic puzzles, there are more than 25 apps available.
Want to give them a try? Come check out our newly acquired classroom set of Merge Cubes from the Adams Lab!
What's a Chromebook?
The Tech Dept recently received a few Chromebook test models. They all convert from laptop to tablet, are durable, and easy to use. Curious? If you would like to check one out, please stop by the Adams Lab and ask Kate!
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Check out this calendar for EdTech PD in the Boston area - both online & in-person!
Tech Professional Development Calendar
Check out this calendar for education-related Twitter chats!
Twitter Chats & Social Media PD Calendar
Twitter Chats are a great way to connect with educators who share your interests. They typically run for one hour each week. A moderator tweets out questions on a specific topic, and everyone chimes in with answers that are 280 characters or less, including the hashtag.
The Tech@DCD website has a new page!
Visit the new Tech Tools page for pictures and descriptions of our favorite edtech tools!
And don't forget to check out new posts on our blog & tutorials pages while you're there!
Need Tech Support?
If you need tech support, please remember to send an email to support@dcds.net!