Embedded Files
Let's get started!
Let's get started!
Monthly Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter
In case you need to go back and find the newsletter emailed at the beginning of the month here is a copy.
Be bold and share!
Be bold and share!
Each challenge has a link to sharing, but don't be afraid to share on the other channels!
Head here to see the other platforms to connect!
What is Critical Thinking?
What is Critical Thinking?
CRITICAL THINKING
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking is the ability to access and analyze key information to develop solutions to complex problems that may have no clear answer. It incorporates reflective and visionary processes. Critical thinking utilizes abstractions and non-rules based strategies to guide decisions, behaviors and actions. Twenty-first century critical thinking reflects:
- thoughtful questioning that challenges assumptions, promotes higher order thinking, leads to new insights and validates perceptions.
- metacognition that supports reflective practice.
- processes that analyze, select, use and evaluate various approaches to develop solutions.
- critical issues that develop innovative responses.
- analysis and synthesis of multiple sources and points of information.
- intentional use of disciplinary frameworks to analyze complex issues and information.
- suspension of judgment while collecting evidence to make determinations.
https://iowacore.gov/content/universal-constructs-essential-21st-century-success-0
Podcast with Alisha Bridges
Podcast with Alisha Bridges
090 Purposeful Play with LEGO featuring Alisha Bridges
090 Purposeful Play with LEGO featuring Alisha Bridges
Head to the shownotes for all the links and ideas she shares. DO NOT SKIP THIS EPISODE! https://wp.me/s4covo-090
Be sure to check out her awesome project from 25 Days of Making Event
Be sure to check out her awesome project from 25 Days of Making Event
103: Liam Nilsen – Learning Experience Designer at The LEGO Foundation
103: Liam Nilsen – Learning Experience Designer at The LEGO Foundation
Topics We Explore
Topics We Explore
https://coffeeforthebrain.com/103-2/
- Who is Liam?
- The focus and mission of LEGO and all the subgroups of LEGO
- How do you create the ideal play experience? What are the factors you should consider?
- Creative Problem Defining > Creative Problem Solving
- How does LEGO Idea Group consider the learning space with the learning goals?
- What are the other creative constraints besides time, material, or end goal?
- How do you know when you have a great creative challenge?
- Caution of assessment
Critical Thinking Resources
Critical Thinking Resources
- Public Library of Critical Thinking Resources
- Edutopia: Resources and Downloads for Teaching Critical Thinking
- 059: BuilderDude35 and The Process of Making and Building https://wp.me/p4covo-28J
- My interview with BuilderDude35(in high school at the time) is an impressive story of what students are capable of with some critical thinking!
- 061: FLL, EV3, and More with the Seshan Brothers https://wp.me/p4covo-29K
- Same situation with the Seshan Brothers. Two students who are leading voices in the world of LEGO!
Critical Thinking Build Challenge #1: Candy Dispenser
Critical Thinking Build Challenge #1: Candy Dispenser
One of many amazing builds by the students in this challenge!
Connect with Students!
Connect with Students!
Here is the link to the Padlet containing the LEGO candy dispensers created by the students of Alisha Bridges from April of 2019
https://padlet.com/bridgeac/candymachine
Your challenge is to build your own and share to our Flipgrid.
When you share your build...
- Explain your learning!
- What did you learn?
- What did you struggle with?
Even better is to leave a comment on the builds of others so they can feel the love!
Let's embrace the journey!
If you want to see some builds from the course back in April 2019 you can see them here: https://flipgrid.com/d1a24d60
How can an activity like this be applied in your current role and learning space?
Share ideas here(bottom of spreadsheet has tabs for topics)
Candy Dispenser Submissions from April 2019 Course
Candy Dispenser Submissions from April 2019 Course
Check these out as inspiration
Project Update: If you want to make one using WeDo 2.0 or EV3 or other elements please feel free to do so. We listed the "no motorized machines" as this was the constraint for the students. For your own learning feel free to build how you wish to build.
Project Update: If you want to make one using WeDo 2.0 or EV3 or other elements please feel free to do so. We listed the "no motorized machines" as this was the constraint for the students. For your own learning feel free to build how you wish to build.
Critical Thinking Build Challenge #2: Marble Maze
Critical Thinking Build Challenge #2: Marble Maze
Marble Maze Submissions
Marble Maze Submissions
Share your Marble Mazes here to this Flipgrid: https://flipgrid.com/ce46df02
You can also submit a photo to this Google Slides
How can an activity like this be applied in your current role and learning space?
Share ideas here(bottom of spreadsheet has tabs for topics)
Here are submissions from the April 2019 course for inspiration
My Maze Progression
My Maze Progression
Maze Submissions
Maze Submissions
Marble Maze Progression of Learning
Marble Maze Progression of Learning
- Single level maze with just standard LEGO pieces
- Single level maze with obstacles built into the design
- Single level maze with obstacles that change angle of ball(base plate has to be tilted on side)
- Obstacles that require a person to use gear mechanism to move ball to second story level
- Two story level maze
- What else?
Think Abouts
Think Abouts
- Sketch design on graph paper first?
- What size of baseplate are you going to use?
- How many levels are you building?
- How wide does the path need to be?
- What type of obstacles are you going to make?
- What ramps could you design?
- What parts/pieces could you add to make the journey through the maze smoother?
- Will your maze require the marble to escape or to land in a specific spot?
Resources to Get Started
Resources to Get Started
- Simply Marble-ous: An easy guide to building marble mazes using LEGO™ products
- Free book if you have an Amazon Prime account. I would not buy as it is only 35 pages and you can find ideas online if you search!
- YouTube search will give you so much inspiration to take your learning to the next level!
Critical Thinking Application Build: Design Your Own Critical Thinking Challenge
Critical Thinking Application Build: Design Your Own Critical Thinking Challenge
This is where you get to express your creativity and share with others.
Do not judge yourself. Do not compare yourself. Part of this course is not only diving into the making and building, but also learning to put your ego aside and share. Be brave. Be bold. We all must share. You never know how your idea could spark new learing in others.
Your task this week is to come up with a critical thinking challenge to use in PD, with your students, or with your own personal learning journey.
You can use the duck kit or any combination of LEGO pieces.
If you find an idea online or elsewhere that is 100% okay. Let's just make sure we give proper credit!
You also need to actually do the challenge to experiment with how it goes.
You also need to actually do the challenge to experiment with how it goes.
Head to this slidedeck and share the following:
- Creative name for the challenge
- Goal of the challenge
- Pictures and/or video of the challenge
- Any new learning
Share on Flipgrid to explain your learning as well
Share on Flipgrid to explain your learning as well
Your Flip Code is pplego and here is a direct link to the Grid:
Be sure to share on our other channels so we can connect with each other!
Be sure to share on our other channels so we can connect with each other!
- Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/397459807500777/
- Twitter - #legoplay
- Pinterest - Join this board as a collaborator and share ideas
- Shared Google Photo Album - anyone in the course can share cool build ideas and examples here
LEGO Clock
LEGO Clock
For my own challenge I attempted to make a working clock using LEGO baseplate, LEGO tiles, and a cheap clock kit.
Bonus Build: Great Ball Contraption
Bonus Build: Great Ball Contraption
Conversation with Jeff Milne
Conversation with Jeff Milne
- This is a 10 minute video where I discuss Great Ball Contraption with Jeff Milne and then demo how they work and connect.
The goal is to get your gears turning for what is possible?
How could you infuse something like this into your learning space?
- Head to this Google Sheet and share at least one idea. Let's see if we can come up with at least 25 ways to integrate something like this into the classroom.
Great Ball Contraption Resources
Great Ball Contraption Resources
- Small GBC
- Planet GBC
- MODULES WITH BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS
Question of the Month!
Question of the Month!
- Use this link to showcase a tour of your organization
- https://flipgrid.com/9f580712
- Share ideas on Pinterest Board
- Use #legoplay on Twitter
- Share photos on FB Group and/or Share Google Photo Album
Connect With Others
Connect With Others
Besides the awesome sharing taking place on Flipgrid and Google Slides, we also need a place to communicate and chat.
Don't forget to head over to this page where you can join our Twitter hashtag, Facebook Group, Google Photo Album and more.
Let's stay connected to empower one another
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