M-Cubed: ISTE Presentation
This video of a 3-D fabrication captures a view of a child's fascination and excitement for creating with new technology, I was drawn in with him and like him tried to get close to watch the paper go into the machine and the design to be cut. I fully understand his elation as he exclaims "it worked". What a cool thing to be able to do in a classroom. I want one of those machines for my classroom.
After watching three more videos from the Fablab 4 Teachers channel I realize that there is a lot more to what I have seen in the first video. The first video I watched was Imgine.Design.Create.Construct It talked about the fabricator machine and the ways in which it can be integrated into different levels of regular curriculum to engage learning. It helps with math skills and actively uses problem solving and it is fun. The second video I watched was Children's Engineering Initiative This video stressed the importance of introducing digital fabrication to students in the elementary schools because it is at that age that children develop these types of engineering and problem solving skills. The third video I watched was Principle of Least Change This was an interview about implementing change for teachers and also for students. It discusses how teachers fall short in the areas of math and science and they are apprehensive about having to teach more complex math skills to students. They developed an idea called the Principle of Least Change which states, begin where people are comfortable and make the most minimal change possible that will enable them to grapple with the new idea and produce new behavior. This works for both teachers and students both. The 2D and 3D fabricators are helpful to implement a new idea with minimal change. Students and teachers both like making things that they can hold and manipulate and they are already doing this in the classroom. The fabricator allows them to do what they are already doing but in a exciting way and teaches new math, engineering and problem solving skills as well as promotes teamwork. I guess you could say that these machines "fake us out" into teaching or learning skills we may otherwise be afraid of.
I watched many of the other videos that were instructional videos on how to do various things with the fabricator just because ai found it interesting. It does not look very complicated like I thought it would be. The tutorials walk you through the steps of design so that anyone can do it. Now I want one of these fabricators for my future classroom even more.
Mr McClung Reflects on Year Two
Refer to blogpost # 8
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, I want a fabricator for my future classroom also. I thought that video was so interesting myself. Those students were so excited about their work and especially when "it worked". They did not realize they were learning because they were having fun. I believe learning should be fun! Whatever what subject you may be teaching, make it fun for you and the students. Great post!!
I think that machine is really cool, too. It, also, creates confidence with computers. Those kids did not seem intimidated at all with the use of technology. I love how you included the benefits of tactile learning. Hands-on learning is an important part of the developmental process. Your blog looks great. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Another fake! Well done. I would like to have a fab machine as well.
ReplyDeleteI loved watching the child's excitement as well when he exclaimed "it worked". I could tell just from watching the video that those children are learning so much from the fab machine. I would love to have one in my classroom as well. It seems that there are many different possibilities with the fab machine.
ReplyDeleteAllison Kirby