This page highlights some of the student learning I have been involved in where students have had the opportunity to create (rather than consume), to make, to design, to love learning...
This year I ran some school holiday classes. Click here for the Hall of Fame.
Here are some more images of the kids hatching their imaginations....
Here are some more images of the kids hatching their imaginations....
In 2014 I had the opportunity to run a Kids' Conference with a focus on learning with digital tools.
I ran this event twice...once using outside professionals to teach our current students and then a second time using those students to teach students from our contributing schools.
It was really successful and an event that I would encourage schools to try. There is so much talent and knowledge amongst the students as well as the staff that you could run a school-wide event.
The students who learned from the experts and then went on to teach others certainly benefited from having had the experience of the initial conference. I was so impressed with their skills, knowledge and organisation.
At the original conference Nate Martin spoke to the students about his company Moving Pixel and his involvement in the Emmy winning America's Cup app. He was inspiring to listen to and certainly got the kids motivated about Gigatown.
Workshops were kindly run by Brendan McCane (Associate Professor of Computer Science-University of Otago), Martin Kean (Communication Lecturer -Otago Polytechnic) and Morgan Oliver (Creative Studies & Communication Design Lecturer -Otago Polytechnic).
Students learned skills in writing code using Scratch, printing 3D objects with 123DSculpt and in changing the interfaces of websites as well as a little robotics.
Students learned skills in writing code using Scratch, printing 3D objects with 123DSculpt and in changing the interfaces of websites as well as a little robotics.
A student-made animation to introduce the KidsCon Event
UPCYCLING
This was a class inquiry into how we could take everyday objects, otherwise destined for the tip, and upcycle them into something useful. The students were able to link this back to the science concept of the carbon cycle as well as ways in which they could impact positively on their environment.
As part of our focus on the concept of impact the Year 8 students at Balmacewen Intermediate were given the chance, as part of their homework, to create an object out of recycled goods. It was impressive to see what they came up with. Pinterest was a big influence! Here are a few examples of what they made:
I have always enjoyed helping students to learn about ways in which to generate their own income. Money is a huge motivator to students and an excellent chance for authentic maths teaching.
In 2014 I facilitated a Pop-Up Christmas Market with two of my fabulous colleagues. It was the first time we'd done this on such a scale. In the past students had run their businesses at break times, marketing to their peers. This was a chance to develop products for the wider community. It was a fantastic twilight market and well supported by parents and the local community. It was great to chat to parents and hear how much the students had been talking about their ideas at home and how engaged they were. It was also useful in holding together a bunch of Year 8s at the curly end of the year!
Check out the products and photos of the evening for yourself..
In 2014 I facilitated a Pop-Up Christmas Market with two of my fabulous colleagues. It was the first time we'd done this on such a scale. In the past students had run their businesses at break times, marketing to their peers. This was a chance to develop products for the wider community. It was a fantastic twilight market and well supported by parents and the local community. It was great to chat to parents and hear how much the students had been talking about their ideas at home and how engaged they were. It was also useful in holding together a bunch of Year 8s at the curly end of the year!
Check out the products and photos of the evening for yourself..
I have usually had my students run their own businesses each year. A percentage of their profits goes to charity (just like paying tax!). I have also been involved in running a school-wide enterprise group which is a lot of fun.
Student enterprise ideas have included: house drink bottles, house badges, embroidered PE bags, mobile phone cases, an ice cream parlour, video-making, photo booth, house wristbands.
Student enterprise ideas have included: house drink bottles, house badges, embroidered PE bags, mobile phone cases, an ice cream parlour, video-making, photo booth, house wristbands.