My students live in a small supportive community, their families are far from affluent, and over 50% qualify for free and reduced lunch. Many do not have access to technology at home. Students are currently enjoying the new technology curriculum as they learn and apply technology usage seamlessly to meet the 4 Cs + 1*:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Coding*.
We need to continue to upgrade our curriculum to include STEAM and coding projects. Doing so will help to prepare our students for a world in which their careers more than likely do not yet exist. Robots and coding are engaging and have cross-curricula potential. The LEGO Mindstorm EV3s and Edison robots will help our students apply their 4 Cs + 1* to become real world ready.
Our technology integration curriculum currently includes working on developing basic to more advanced Google app skills creating multiple 4C's projects, such as Google Slides: stop motion digital citizen themed videos; using free code.org curriculum to develop an understanding of block coding, collaborating on a research project to create a video report using WeVideo, and free accounts on typing.com to develop our keyboarding skills.
My Project
My students have had minimal coding exposure. Initially, students will be using the Lego Mindstorm EV3 and Edison Robot kits as stations to create predesigned challenges helping them to understand how the design and engineering process functions while learning inventory responsibilities rotating through group roles, tasks and challenges. The initial construction instructions are free downloads. Then, students will create their own innovative designs based on group consensus. In addition, each group will document their build process to illustrate and to share the evolution of their artifact.
Students will use the engineering and programming process with grit and growth mindset.
The Lego Mindstorm and Edison kits will be tools to help transform our teacher-led class into one with students driving their learning with the teacher evolving as an advisor mentor.
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