Student Innovation Team
The 2017-18 Student Innovation Team List was posted at the school. There were 32 positions filled in total. We have had some leave and replacements come in.
Please see the 2017-18 link above for a partial look at what has been happening this year. This also includes a list of our sponsors.
Announcement: We will be having our second annual Tech Night on Monday, May 21, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:00 in the WES Commons. This year it will not be held the same night as the PTO BBQ so that these students can have the spotlight; they deserve it. They have spent the year working on several different things, many persevering through issues, figuring out what is working, what isn't , and what they need to do to fix it. Most have been keeping records in a journal, allowing for reflection. These are life-long skills.
There was so much interest from grades 3 and 4 that I had to divide them up. Grade 3 will be coming during recess on Tuesday still, but Grade 4 will be coming during their recess on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
Students have asked for links to some of the programs we will be using. This just touches the surface of the possibilities. These may also be used by friends.
1. Scratch (coding app that allows for animation and creating your own games - you do need to join if you want to save your work. It is free) https://scratch.mit.edu/
2. Hopscotch (coding program similar to Scratch but a little easier for younger students) https://www.gethopscotch.com/ Once you have had some practice and have played around a bit, here is a video that shows how you could make your own version of the Angry Bird game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFdRw9E6h5s
3. LittleBits Gizmos and Gadgets - How it works
5. Creating Google websites - tutorial created in Google slides. Click pause in between each slide if you are just beginning.
We are in need of supplies. The robots need AA or AAA batteries. A couple more screwdriver/bit sets for building the robots and doing computer hardware is needed. Some have been recently purchased and reimbursed by the PTO (thank you so much!), but we could use a couple more.
We are also in need of a few more older computer systems. We have four that the students can learn about, take apart, and put back together again, but the interest was much greater. I have some working with a partner on the same computer, but there is also more than one group working on the same computer. It would be nice if each group had their own so that they could start where they left off the prior week.
You could also Donate to the SIT by making a check payable to WES S.I.T. (Student Innovation Team). If you could let me know that you are doing this, that would be great!