Tech Tip #13 - Hot Wheels Speedometry Kit for FREE!

Welcome to our final 'tech tip' of the school year! We will begin regularly posting tips when the students return after Labor Day.

A definite theme of ours this year has been making. We feel there is a definite value to creating and making something in the classroom. Our recent Southwest Michigan Mini Maker Faire was attended by over 1200 people who made over 200 Nerdy Derby Vehicles, launched 150 rockets, and 100 of them learned to solder.

Taking that making mentality and making learning hands-on is nothing new. John and I both recently received a great kit meant to support later elementary students with math and science ... from Hot Wheels. In fact, Hot Wheels is GIVING AWAY a speedometry kit for free to any 4th grade teacher that applies here. Each kit includes the following materials.

40 Hot Wheels® diecast cars
16 orange loops
16 track clamps
64 track connectors
100+ feet of orange track

Lessons for using the kit are Common Core and Next Generation Science Standard aligned and some contain YouTube videos to help guide classrooms as well. While the focus is on Grade 4, you could utilize this kit at many levels. Berrien RESA now has two available to support your classrooms, feel free to contact John or I for more information. Have a great summer!

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Getting Started with 3D Printing: Part 1

By now, it is likely that you have seen or heard of the concept of 3D printing. The easiest way to think of it is taking a 3D model off of the computer and turning it into a real life product. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process so there is very little waste when you make objects.

When you decide to get started yourself, it can be VERY overwhelming trying to figure out which 3D printer to buy and how to even begin. In this series of blog posts, I intend to share some first hand tips on how to make that process easier and help you avoid some mistakes that I have made.

Finding a Printer

Congratulations, you have examined your educational goals and figured out that a 3D printer would be a good fit for you and your students! Expect that you will need to have a budget of approx. $700 to $1000 to get started. That would include the cost of the machine, and a spool of filament.

Here at the RESA we have a RoStock MAX v2 ($1000 for the kit) and a Polar 3D printer ($600.) There…

Google My Maps

You may have noticed that 'Google My Maps' have shown up in your google drive. I was able to attend a session at MACUL's Googlefest this past month and picked up some great tips from Kelly Kermode, a technology coach for Forest Hills Schools.
Below is an overview on how to import data into a Google My Map. Once you have mastered this skill there are numerous practical uses to explore! ______________________________________________________________________________
Here is what the finished map looked like based on the data that I imported. I was alerted that there were several rows unable to be mapped - I went in and checked for grammar and was able to resolve this issue. I could also have chosen to place the pins manually by selecting one from above and placing it where I wanted. _________________________________________________________________________

Google My Maps provide a great tool for building geographic awareness. Students could create a walking tour of thei…

My Challenge to You... Go Make Something!

Having just returned from the MACUL conference, I was struck by the number of educators who don't identify themselves as makers. A maker by definition is "a person or thing that makes or produces something." (Google) It seems to me that by that definition that all humans are makers.

Perhaps the reason that many of the educators that I met at the MACUL conference don't identify as makers is that they have had the creative spirit educated out of them. This theory is based on an amazing TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson. (Included below)

To summarize he posits that schools educate students into compliance which defeats the creative ability of kids. Do you agree with this statement? In an environment based on standardized testing and high stakes performance is there time to be creative?

The maker movement is catching fire nationwide and I believe it is a direct response to try to counteract the loss of creativity. Students should be empowered to be creative in their daily …

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