Students were exposed to a variety of apps throughout the school year to add to their digital toolbox: Book Creator, Seesaw, Clips, Chatterpix, Blockly, and Scratch Jr.
A game the encourages small groups to "invent" a new product by combining ideas in two cards and create something new. Students had to brainstorm, collaborate, design a product, and communicate with others.
A fun way for students and teachers to try out some design thinking. All you need is a bag of materials and a challenge prompt for the students! Students work in groups to brainstorm, collaborate, build their design, and communicate to share their ideas.
Students dove into Pebble Go, World Book Kids, and books to research various animals and their habitats. This helped to engage them and develop empathy for these animals.
video on Clips app
book on Book Creator
designed a newspaper
presented to peers
Go slow, but set time constraints for students (and yourself!).
Let them take the lead - their ideas are amazing!
The engagement factor goes up when they love what they're doing.
It's okay to reach out to your digital coach or even other Maker teachers for help.
Ask other classes in your building to come into be your audience for sharing prototypes. The students are excited and it makes for authentic feedback from peers.
Try Maker projects that tie to your curriculum so that you aren't needing to find more time to fit things in.