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January 2024
K-12 Students are Soaring into drone Technology
K-12 Students are Soaring into drone Technology
January 2024
K-12 Students are Soaring into drone Technology
K-12 Students are Soaring into drone Technology
I had the pleasure of visiting Owen D. Young Schools and technology teacher, Mr. Rupp, for a special Drone Day. The students focused on flying their new Rocket Drones! ODY is the first school in the MORIC region with a Rocket Drone racing team. The students will be able to hold local races, but also can race virtually with schools around the country. These talented pilots are logging more flight time each week!
Incorporating drones into K-12 curriculum supports students with an introduction to computer science, design, problem solving, and engineering skills. Plus it’s opening doors to careers in the rapidly growing drone industry!
Elevator ride with the ODY Drone Day Team! Heather's giant backpack is holding an inflatable race gate.
August 31, 2023
Can AI Identify Doodles? Be a math tutor? Help write a song?
Can AI Identify Doodles? Be a math tutor? Help write a song?
Inspired by my colleagues on the Model Schools Team, I took a bit of a dive into artificial intelligence (AI) this summer and started to become more intentional in choosing AI tools to help me with personal and professional tasks. What I wasn’t expecting is to find a bit of joy in some of the applications of AI. So here are the three tools that I just can’t get enough of!
#3 Quick, Draw!
#3 Quick, Draw!
Technically, Quick, Draw! Is a doodling data set created by Google employees. But they’ve made interacting with the data into a game. The website gives you a task to draw a simple object and the AI takes guesses. You have 20 seconds to draw, so if the AI doesn’t guess before your time’s up it moves on to the next item.
You can also look at the billions of doodles in the data set. 🥵 It’s quite interesting to see how many ways people have doodled items like a sink, boat, or parrot.
Quick, Draw!.webmGive it a try and let me know what you think! Just don’t be surprised if you can’t step away!
Check it out here: https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/
#2 Kahnmigo
#2 Kahnmigo
Imagine if every kid could have their own personal tutor? That’s the goal of Kahn Academy’s Kahnmigo. I was very skeptical about this tool, but after giving it a chance, I can say with confidence that it has far more patience than I do. I’ll be making it available to my children to use for homework help this year! Unlike ChatGPT, Khanmigo doesn't do school work for students but instead acts as a tutor and guide to help them learn.
Check it out here: https://www.khanacademy.org/settings/khan-labs
#1 The TextFX Project
#1 The TextFX Project
GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Lupe Fiasco worked with MIT and Google to experiment with Google’s latest large language model PaLM 2 and MakerSuite to build AI tools for writers, rappers and wordsmiths. Watch the video to see how Lupe Fiasco uses TextFX in his writing process.
The applications for this tool are really inspiring! Could you use this tool to support a writing unit? In a music class? I invite you to reach out so we can discuss tech integration! I’d love to see how students respond to using it in your classroom.
Check it out here: https://textfx.withgoogle.com/
July 11, 2023
7 New Practical Uses of CS Released in CS Connections
7 New Practical Uses of CS Released in CS Connections
Sometimes you find a gem 💎 in your inbox. Today was one of those days! The Code.org team sent an email featuring their curriculum updates for the 2023-24. Lots of great stuff in those updates, but it was the second topic in their email that blew my mind 🤯 and had me joyfully coding as I tried out some very special new learning modules. I refer to these modules as "very special" because they are designed to integrate computer science (CS) into ELA, social studies, math, and science! 🥰
CS Connections has a library of seven prepared modules designed to work within curriculum for grades 3-5. The modules provide real-world applications of CS that align with what students are already learning! It’s a fun way to reenforce what students have learned in math, science, ELA, and social studies, while giving them an opportunity to make computer science connections with that new knowledge. The modules come complete with video instruction designed to be played for the class, and helpful hints for the students. It is very well done! Another high-5 🙌🏼 for the Code.org team!
In addition to these new modules, there is also a free self-paced PD module for teachers. The module walks through coding concepts and pedagogical best practices to help teachers build confidence in incorporating the lessons in their classroom.
💡 If you’re interested in giving this a try in your classroom, reach out!
We can setup a call and I can demo the modules for you. If you like what you see, I’ll be happy to come to your classroom and co-teach these modules with you, or work with you 1:1 to help you become comfortable takin this on yourself.
Check out these screenshots from my joyful coding session this morning!
From the article, here are the newest CS Connections modules:
Simulating a Marine Ecosystem: Students will use coding to simulate a marine ecosystem, exploring the interdependencies between different organisms and their environment.
Coding a Geometric Star Quilt: Students will learn code to create geometric patterns in stunning star quilts, blending mathematical concepts with creative expression.
Coding a Time Capsule: Students will create a digital time capsule to capture and preserve memories for the future.
Coding Interactive Maps: Students will use coding to develop a map that tells a story, allowing them to explore geographic information in an engaging and interactive way.
Modeling Animal Adaptations: Students will use code to model animal adaptations, deepening their understanding of how different species have evolved to survive in their environments.
Coding Book Covers: Students can use code to create the cover of a book, using sprites and text to convey characters, setting, plot, and more.
Coding with Poetry: Students will explore the intersection of coding and language arts by creating interactive poems, bringing words to life through programming.
All 2023 Blog Posts
June 7, 2023
Join Us This Summer!
Join Us This Summer!
In my first week with the RIC I was thrilled to learn about all of the professional development opportunities that will be happening this summer! With so many options it might be tricky to pick an event to attend. Here are my 5 Picks for Interactive PD from the RIC's Professional Learning Calendar. I'm signed up! Will I see you at any of these events?
💬 I should note that these are just a few of the awesome opportunities for PD offered this summer. Check out the PD Calendar for more awesome sessions!
Tech Savvy Teaching:
13 Ways to Integrate Technology in the Classroom
Thursday, July 13 from 9am - 3pm at the TriPlexus
Explore 13 distinct experiences that can enhance genuine technology integration in your classroom. This session is designed to enhance teacher's abilities to engage students, embed computer science and digital fluency standards, and integrate technology into their lessons.
Monday, July 17 from 9am - 12pm at the TriPlexus
Discover the power of gamification and game-based learning in the classroom! This hands on session will introduce different game mechanics and how to incorporate them into your lessons, such as points, badges, leaderboards, and quests. You will also explore various educational games and their benefits for students' learning, such as problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Time will be given to create and exchange ideas and feedback with other educators and reflect on how to adapt gamification to your teaching practice. Leave this session feeling energized and ready to bring gamified learning back to your classroom! Please bring a laptop or your own device with you.
Dig into ChatGPT: Harnessing AI Creative Collaboration
Wednesday, July 26 from 1pm - 3pm at the TriPlexus
This hands-on in-person PD session gives educators a chance to explore ChatGPT as a collaborative tool for creating teaching resources. We'll begin with a refresher on ChatGPT basics and prompt engineering, explore examples of teaching resources created using AI generative tools, then dive into collaborative creating with ChatGPT! Please bring your laptop or device to this session. Attendees will need to have a ChatGPT account.
The Amazing Race: NYS Computer Science & Digital Fluency Standards
Tuesday, August 1 from 9am - 12pm at the TriPlexus
Armed with a basic understanding of NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards, teams of teachers will embark on a race that rewards them with a strong foundational knowledge of the Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards, as well as ideas for direct implementation in the new school year. Together, you and your teammates will engage in collaboration and communication as you complete challenges focused on the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards to help strengthen your understanding, and allow you to walk away with new ways you can integrate these standards into your pre-existing curriculum.
Tuesday, August 8 at the Turning Stone Event Center
Join us to connect with state, regional, and district leaders and network with vendor partners and district colleagues. More information to come soon!
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