News from TechTerra Education
ISTE 2016, Impacting Today’s Learners
By Susan S. Wells, TechTerra Education founder
I’m back in Durham now after a week at the end of June at ISTE 2016, the annual conference of the International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE is a 100,000 member strong nonprofit organization serving educators and those involved in education and technology across the globe. ISTE provides valuable educational technology resources and the ISTE Standards for Learning, but ISTE may be best known for its ISTE Conference & Expo — a world-wide comprehensive edtech event. And one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world.
This year the ISTE annual conference was held in Denver, Colorado. There were over 20,000 in attendance including over 500 companies and participants from roughly 80 countries.
This was a very full week for TechTerra Education. As ISTE Mobile Learning Network (MLN) president I had network responsibilities, including organizing our 4th annual Saturday pre-conference, ISTE Mobile MegaShare. This event alone has grown from 175 attendees in 2013 to almost 575 attendees this year. We had a global gathering of teachers, administrators, technology directors, and companies collaborating and sharing resources. Also on the schedule, our MLN reception, the ISTE Community Networking Fair, our MLN Playground, and finally our Network Annual Meeting.
TechTerra Education had a half dozen staff members in Denver this year to share resources at five separate events across the five days -- the Mobile MegaShare Pre-Conference, the STEM Playground, the Maker Playground, the Mobile Learning Playground and at our Poster Session, “Computational Thinking + PBL = STEM Ignited!"
As advocates for students and educators, being a part of the annual ISTE conference is a highlight of our work at TechTerra Education. This year we had the chance to meet with hundreds of teacher, librarians, administrators and many others who share this work, allowing us to understand needs and see what’s coming next to insure that TechTerra’s camp sessions for students, professional development for educators, and curriculum support for companies is on target.
TechTerra Education at ISTE 2016
As a long time teacher and TechTerra team member, I’m always excited to meet others who are interested in educational technology. So I was delighted to be able to participate in several different events during ISTE 2016 at the end of June.
First up was the Mobile MegaShare event, started four years ago as a way for ISTE participants to get free professional development opportunities the Saturday before the start of the conference. This year’s MegaShare had 565 participants, an all time high! Dozens of presenters, including TechTerra Education representatives, sat at roundtables, offering participants the opportunity to hear about and interact with new tools based on mobile learning.
Meeting and interacting with many others at ISTE 2016, I came away with new ways of looking at education, new ways of introducing and growing students’ mastery of STEM and programming, and new insights on integrating the real world around us into a technology program. I’m so glad that TechTerra Education was part of this important discussion, and already looking forward to next year’s ISTE conference!
Learning Fun at Camp TechTerra
As a teacher with 20 years of experience to date, I had heard about Camp TechTerra for several years. Susan had explained the Camp to me more than once. However, hearing about Camp TechTerra and experiencing it are two completely different things.
To begin with I had to let go of long ingrained teaching dogma involving lectures, paper and pencil. Campers at TechTerra are fully immersed in learning. But they are not fully immersed in note taking and lectures. At Camp TechTerra, when they say the campers will have fun, they mean it. A key tenet of the Camp is that campers have fun while learning science and technology. Campers also learn important life skills, such as working in a team and waiting their turn. Just ask my son, 5 year old Griffin, new to Camp TechTerra this year.
So here I was, a 20 year veteran teacher who has always believed that the more my students enjoy their learning, the more they get out of it, but have rarely had the time or the support to implement and test that theory, walking into a Camp where that is actually what happens. It took me a few days to catch up. While we enjoyed hearing about amazing bugs, photographed and filmed the world through the micro lens on androids, made Superhero Bugs, and created bug jack-in-the-boxes, my campers also were learning. They learned all about parts of bugs and what some bugs can do (such as the Zombi Wasp’s ability to control caterpillars or the antibiotics in cockroaches' brains), they learned how the legs on locusts propel them into the air, they learned what the world looks like from an ant's perspective.
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” -- O. Fred Donaldson
Skeptics
Every group has its skeptics and Camp TechTerra is no different. They come to us at the old age of middle school or about to start high school, gasp. They think, there is no way this group, with kids as young as five, has anything to keep my attention, and they sigh and roll their eyes as only teenagers can do. Then something happens. Totally against their will, of course, they begin to get involved.
Their first eye opener is that they will not be required or requested to watch out for, mentor or coach the younger students. At Camp TechTerra every camper’s needs are supported and differentiation is key. The second eye opener is that as each group changes from station to station, so do the stations change. If the youngest group is doing one activity at a station, the oldest group will either be doing a much more sophisticated version of that activity or a completely different activity altogether.
Amazingly, it doesn’t take even a whole day to make believers out of our skeptics. By the end of the first day, teachers are getting them excited. “See you tomorrow!” In the morning the students are ready to go diving into the group Lego structure and asking what they get to do next.
Recently we had two such skeptics. The week’s theme was Carnival, with a science focus including magnetism and physics. Both boys came to the first day of Camp clearly ready to dislike it. There was a bit of goofing off at first, and I definitely saw the great eye roll. They eagerly explained that they would miss day two for another activity, cue big smile. I’m fairly certain they never realized what was happening to them. One minute they were the eye rollers, the next, they were the believers.
They began their day playing some board games, then moved to the huge tubs of Legos to begin building their portion of the group Lego project. Both made terrific additions and, when it was time to move to stations, were clearly consoled by knowing the Lego project would continue all week. At their first station they worked on Magnetism; heading outside to find the materials for building fishing poles, real smiles materialized. At the next station they learned the physics of Carnivals and worked as a group to make a Skee Ball game. It was all downhill from there. They were hooked.
Insights from Two Teenage ISTE 2016 Attendees
Q: What was the most interesting thing about ISTE that you noticed?
Ethan: The most interesting thing to me was going around and talking to the people who created all of the interesting tools and games. I liked finding out why they created them and how they went about creating them. I also liked learning how they get them into the market for sale.
Q: What was most memorable and why?
Ethan: The Bloxels were the most memorable thing I saw. A lot of things made that memorable to me. You can create your video game without having to code. Bloxels makes it simple.
Shelby:
One really memorable thing happened as I was walking in the convention center and back toward the hotel. I noticed someone in front of me stop, turn, and take a picture. I didn't understand why someone would stop right there to take a picture, so I turned around too, and as I looked out and saw a whole sea of people. It struck me that that really was so amazing. It also struck me that I had just made my way through that sea.
Q: What is something you want to try
Ethan: I can’t wait to try the Lego Quadcopter that you build (Flybrix). I would like to try that because I’m pretty interested in drones. I have one and it would be interesting to build one out of Legos because I’m really interested in Legos too.
Shelby: I got a lot of ideas for when I start teaching elementary school, after I get my college degree. I got a lot of advice and so many people were telling me good luck. I felt ready to start teaching and to get going.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like readers to know?
Ethan: It was a very interesting experience and I can’t wait to go back next year.
Shelby: I feel like ISTE is a really worthwhile experience because you get to meet so many people and learn so many new ideas. People gather there all around educating students. I'm not even a teacher yet and it was such a great experience. I would suggest people try it if they can.
Innovation and ISTE 2016 -- Top Tool Picks
By Susan Wells. A version of this article first appeared on 7/9/2016 at http://www.susanswells.com/blog/innovation-and-iste-2016-top-tool-picks.
For classrooms, schools and districts seeking the right tools for this work, here are some exciting new tools that were talked about and demonstrated at ISTE 2016:
Circuitry and Electronics
Chibitronics Circuit Stickers -- “Materials and techniques for blending electronics with traditional arts and crafts media to create personally meaningful technology and new media for self-expression.” Although we’ve been using copper tape, batteries and led lights for our projects, these kits provide all a young maker needs to build an understanding of circuitry while merging art and literacy into the work. Back in Durham, we were able to use our kits this week at Camp TechTerra. Huge success!
Little Bits Electronic Building Blocks -- “Color-coded, magnetic, reusable.” Not new to makers, but the Pro Library that Little Bits had on display was impressive and expansive.
Coding and Robotics
Kano Computer and Coding Kit -- “Make a computer, learn what's inside, play with code.” 2016 is our second year using Kano at Camp TechTerra. This year we've used the Screen Kit, another huge hit.
RoboTerra Robotic Collection Kit -- “A platform not only to develop robots, but also to develop skills.”
Dexter Industries GoBoxEd Curriculum -- “A full lineup of totally customizable robot kits that work on your favorite platforms like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and Lego Mindstorms.” We’ve been using Dexter robot kits at Camp TechTerra. Their GoBoxEd Missions for grades 4-12 are a true guide for STEM and Maker teachers.
Primo Toys Cubetto Robot -- “The coding toy for girls and boys aged three and up. No screens, just play.” We’ve been working and playing with this robot for over a year, partnering with Primo Toys in testing and development as they've gone from concept to market, and have found it to be a powerful tangible introduction to coding for all ages. At ISTE this year, we were pleased to be able to demo Cubetto.
Makerspace Hardware
XYZPrinting 3D Printing Solutions -- “Cost-effective 3D printing [for] personnel and business.” We’ve been talking about the Da Vinci Jr for the last few months, given its ease of use, hardiness -- holding up over constant use -- and its value. The new XYZPrinting STEAM curriculum exchange program provides real support to teachers.
AP Lazer High Power Laser Machines & Laser Engraving Systems -- “Large format laser engraving machines with patented open architecture and no size/weight restrictions.” We’re excited about the tabletop Laser Machine size, given space concerns within many school-based makerspaces and STEM labs.
About TechTerra Education
The TechTerra curriculum, inspired and informed by Maker Education and Project Based Learning, was developed by Susan Wells, a national leader in mobile-integrated education and public school educator.
In addition to offering professional development training, school solutions, and tool solutions, TechTerra Education’s Camp TechTerra, held during fall, spring and summer sessions, offers programs for students ages 5 to 14 that bring together the seemingly disparate elements of technology and nature to help young people better understand the natural world through coding, storytelling, and digital devices.
Contact
Contact TechTerra Education at:
919-627-4207
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