Podcasts about ozobots

This episode is brought to you by Kinazium. Kinazium is the ultimate set for building mazes and games while having fun with math and physics! It works with Sphero, Vex, Wonderworks, Maker Bot, BeeBot, and more. Click on the link below to save 12% off your next Kinazium purchase. Hurry because the offer ends September 30th, 2024. Click Here To Save 12% Using Code: ETB2024 Click Here To View On Amazon You've got Ozobots, Spheros, Vex, Wonderworks, BeeBots, and Maker Bots… now what?! In this episode, I chat with Susan Crouse from Kinazium to discuss how Kinazium is reshaping STEM and STEAM while putting these robots to work in the classroom. Learn how Kinazium is checking the boxes when it comes to Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication. Let students explore three dimensional and game design while having fun. Self-directed learning will be at the forefront with your students and at the same time they learn coding skills. Give this episode a listen and don't forget to purchase your building set using the 12% off code: ETB2024 using the link above. Buen provecho! Connect With Gabriel Carrillo EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com EdTech Bites Twitter: https://twitter.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites Threads: https://www.threads.net/@edtechbites EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites About Susan Crouse Susan started her career as one of the first computer animators on the planet, later she became a product manager in the video industry. Over her career she won 2 technical team Emmy's, one for the first realtime computer animation system, FGW4000. Traxart is her fourth startup and Kinazium is the result of that endeavor. "We love how Kinaizum brings joy into the classroom and the home, where kids get to invent their own games/mazes and environments for robots and other rolling toys.” Connect With Susan And Kinazium Kinazium Website Kinazium On Twitter Kinazium On Instagram Kinazium On Facebook Kinazium On TikTok The Book Is Officially Out! My first book “Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons” is officially out! A HUGE shout out to Lumio for helping sponsor this book. I'm super excited about this project. It's filled with ideas on how to make memorable experiences for your students. In addition, each chapter also lays out a specific recipe mentioned in that chapter along with a video tutorial on how to prepare that dish. Make sure you get your copy and cook up some experiences for your students and loved ones! Click Here To Purchase Your Copy On Amazon

In this episode, the DLCs share their favorite projects and tools from the 2021-2022 school year. Topics include Book Creator, We Video, Ozobots, Canva (directions for Canva from our LPS Tech Resource site), wireless Epson projection and more.

Informatisches Denken in der Volksschule

Find out about using robotics in the classroom. Today Toni explores some examples of robotics being used in classrooms such as Beebots, Edisons, Spheros and Ozobots! Check out all the links in the show notes at http:/bit.ly/techietenshownotes Follow along on Twitter @TechieTen for more resources and ideas!

MTT045| Ozobot, Mighty Little Robots to code and create - Nikki Jones Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Have you seen Ozobots, perhaps in a STEAM lab or at a conference, moving around the floor or table, but didn’t understand what it was doing or how you could use it with your students?  Join us today as we speak with Nikki Jones, a 3rd Grade teacher from Virginia that loves technology, especially Ozobots.  Find out how Nikki uses the Ozobots, not only for coding, but how she also uses them for math, social studies and science! Nikki Jones, a thirteen-year veteran educator values creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from SUNY Fredonia and obtained her master's degree in Special Education from George Mason University in Virginia. She currently teaches third grade at Chris Yung Elementary in Bristow, Virginia. Nikki has taught 1st grade and worked as an Instructional Technology Coach. She has presented at Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) and numerous conferences, served as a lead mentor for new teachers and as team leader for the past four years. Technology plays a major role in her classroom as it is used daily to help facilitate learning and engage students. As an Ozobot Certified Educator she shares innovative lessons and her experiences taking risks to integrate the Ozobots and computer science into core content areas. She is a life-long learner who continues to reinvent herself. She is passionate about sharing her love for technology-integrated education and committed to helping other educators to feel comfortable using technology in their classrooms.   Contact: Nikki Jones Twitter: @mrsjones72812 Email: mrsjones72812@gmail.com   Items mentioned in Episode 45: Ozobot Donors Choose Seesaw Project Based Learning Nikki’s Ozobot Learning Library #remotelearning #distancelearning #ozobot #podcastedu #podcasting #ozosquad #letthekidslead #ozosquad   If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend, and SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO THE SHOW!  Please share this podcast with someone you think might benefit.   Email us! Shannon@MyTechToolbelt.com Brenda@MyTechToolbelt.com   We would love to hear from you!  Let us know if you find our podcast helpful!  Is there technology out there that you would like us to cover in one of our episodes?  Contact us!   What’s in your Tech Toolbelt? www.mytechtoolbelt.com Twitter: @mytechtoolbelt   Instagram: My Tech Toolbelt   You can listen to our podcast on: Apple Podcasts Google Play Music Spotify or listen here Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music  

Description (domo arigato Mr. Roboto) That’s right we’re talking about the rock band Styx … well, not really. But we are talking about … wait for it … robots! Not really the “Klaatu barada nikto” Gort-style robots of The Day The Earth Stood Still fame, but the less earth-threatening kind. You know, the kind that our kids build, program, and operate right here in school. Lessons Learned Dennis - https://www.classroomscreen.com/ A simple tool to help manage your classroom. Daniel -  Private Channels in Teams - You must create a new channel. Chris - Android phone-controlled robots! “Most robots are run by the Arduino board, and there are wireless Arduino shields which allow the robot to communicate wirelessly by using a Bluetooth or WiFi module.” https://robotsauthority.com 10-ideas-for-school-robot-projects Fun Fact Automatons Radiolab Episode: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/radiolab-clockwork-miracle Want to see the mechanical monk? https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-450-year-old-clockwork-monk-is-fully-operational-5956937 Notes & Links 10 Reasons Why Your School Must have A Robotics Program Coding and Computer Science. ... Maker–based Learning. ... Career Skills. ... Arts: The “A” in STEAM / Digital Arts Instruction. ... Innovation, Problem Solving, Creativity. ... Motivation and Engagement. ... Collaboration and ”Cooper-tition” ... Sport of the Mind / 'e-Sport' Engineering STEM learning across the curriculum Life & Developmental Skills (ok, that’s 11) Don’t have time for a robotics class?  Integrate Robots into your curriculum. GR1 - Program robots to move on a number line to model addition and subtraction sentences. ELA - Storytelling. Program robots (Ozobots) to be the actor in a story. So many curriculum ideas and lesson plans to explore - CodeHS and CodeCombat and CodeSpark for Educators/Librarians and Hour of Code (https://hourofcode.com/hk/en/learn)

Tune in as Kelly Hincks shares strategies for collaboration and resources for coding in your library program. I would like to thank composer Nazar Rybak at Hooksounds.com for the music you’ve heard today.   KQ The Glass Half Full: Focusing on the Positive KQ The Ready to Code (RtC) Collection  KQ 4 Thoughts from an Elementary School Tour KQ Summarizing with Dash: A Collaborative Project with 1st Grade ALA’s Libraries Ready to Code CF First - A Google for Education initiative ALA Ready to Code Champion PDF KQ When Reading, Research, and Coding Join Forces KQ Mixing Reading with Coding in Early Childhood KQ Retelling with Ozobots in 5 Easy Steps KQ Code to Move: Mixing Coding with Brain Breaks Code.org NASA: Explore Mars-A Mars Rover Game  Podcast: Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover-Everyone can code Podcast: Shake Up Learning with Kasey Bell-Gearing Up for the Hour of Code Ask a Tech Teacher Blog Hour of Code 101 Websites for Hour of Code by Grade      How Students Can Build Their Own Apps    4 Unplugged Activities for Hour of Code

The EdTechLoop Pod is joined by a special guest this week as TCAPS STEM Coordinator, Heidi Skodack, shares her thoughts on the upcoming Hour of Code activities and STEM opportunities for students of all ages. Get involved in the "Hour of Code" December 9-15! Show TranscriptsLarry Burden 0:04 Whatever you say is etched in stone.Or at least when I was doing the little research that I did.Heidi Skodack 0:13 Do you agree?Danelle Brostrom 0:14 I do,Larry Burden 0:15 We have to be able to hear you.Heidi Skodack 0:16 Okay, this could go really bad.Larry Burden 0:19 I am unconcerned.It's Episode 99 of the EdTech Loop podcast, my name is Larry Burden and she still hasn't figured out how the zombies got into her Minecraft castle, it's Danelle Brostrom, and at long last, our quest is complete, as we joyously welcome TCAPS STEM Curriculum leader Heidi Skodak. I know you have many other titles, but we're just gonna stick with that one. Through a process of trial and error, I have crafted this week's moment of Zen.Moment of Zen 0:51 I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough. We must apply. Being willing is not enough. We must do.Larry Burden 1:01 A little Leonardo da Vinci for you there. We've eliminated all the unnecessary ingredients so we could truly appreciate the flavor of this week's meat of the show. Hour of Code. So every year, somehow when we do these podcasts, we make mention of the Hour of Code. We kind of, this is a really cool thing we should get involved in, after the podcast where we've mentioned it, we go, next year we need to have somebody on to discuss this before the Hour of Code so that we can get more people involved. So this year we have the person that knows it all.Heidi Skodack 1:37 Definitely not the case, nobody can know it all.Larry Burden 1:39 Definetly no the case, I was talking about Danelle.Danelle Brostrom 1:43 No, no. We can dive right in though.Larry Burden 1:45 Alright dive right in, I know you have a bunch of questions and I'm gonna throw a lot. I was mentioning to Danielle before the podcast that this is... I'm looking for some marketing materials here, because I have a daughter that's about ready to go off into college, who's a Maker but doesn't really realize that she's a Maker. And I've been trying for years to get her involved, a little bit more involved in, and we're discussing this earlier, Computer Sciences, computer programming, STEM, coding, whatever you want to call it. So I'm going to use all these materials, all the things that we're getting today on her.Heidi Skodack 2:20 That's perfect, you have the sleeper makers are the best. They don't realize they like STEM and computer science, until they've actually gone and done job experiences or job shadows with other people to realize what they actually love to do is create and make and, in the space called early STEM.Danelle Brostrom 2:38 So why, why are colleges and businesses, the workforce, why are we pushing kids to do STEM? Why are they looking for kids that are interested in STEM?Heidi Skodack 2:47 There's a long answer and a short answer to that. The short answer really is that the jobs of the future really are going to be related to computer science, and science, technology, engineering, and math and how those you bring together to actually develop careers, based on those things. So computer scientist is one area that is a big push right now. They talk about, at code.org, they talk about the different areas and careers that you can go into related to STEM.Larry Burden 3:15 So, again, huge researcher me. Not really. It seems like there is a giant gap in what industries need, what our job force, what is needed in the job force and what we are actually preparing kids for. How are we setting up kids, you know, through the Hour of Code, and through our programming in our classrooms, how are we setting kids up to be introduced to coding, or computer science?Heidi Skodack 3:43 Well I think we have a lot of work to do. We certainly aren't where we need to be K through 12. And it's a difficult task because you're really thinking about things, and jobs of the future that don't exist yet. So that's, that's a big hurdle to overcome but getting students exposed at the earliest age; kindergarten, first grade, second grade, you know, that's where it all starts in jobs the future. If you're at all in tune with things that are happening in Traverse City there's, you know, a group called TC Connect, which has now joined up with the Chamber of Commerce, to talk about where the jobs are going to be in the future in Traverse City, and their goal really is to bring high tech jobs back to Traverse City, so our Boomerang students, our kids right, who go off to college and get a, or have education in the area of computer science, programming anything STEM, when they come back they have jobs. And so they recognize the need, our local need for building that capacity in our students and it has to start in K through 12. So how do we build that capacity at a young age, which means building capacity of the teachers to recognize the importance of implementing some STEM based activities and computer science activities in the classroom starting in kindergarten.Danelle Brostrom 4:56 Do you think it's a, think it's a hard sell or do you think that's an easy sell. When you go out and talk to teachers about this, the new kinds of skills that our students need, do you, are teachers nodding and being like, Yeah, let's do it, let's go, or do they have some hesitations? Can you talk about that?Heidi Skodack 5:12 I don't think I've run into anybody who has said, Do we really need that?Danelle Brostrom 5:16 That's crazy.Heidi Skodack 5:18 Yes, exactly. But I do run into apprehension because when I mean we're going to talk about really, you know, Hour of Code, I do run into some pushback in, I don't know how to code, how can I teach my kid, I have no experience at all in computer science or coding, how, how am I going to be able to teach that to my students? And so that's really what the conversation, that's where you get pushback from is, how can I do it I've never done it myself. Because as a teacher, you always want to be the expert in the room. Well those days are kind of gone. You have to be sometimes learning with the students on new ideas in, especially related to computer science.Larry Burden 5:54 I have a weird question, and this is this kind of came to me right before the podcast. It's odd because when I was in high school, a millennia ago, there was a computer programming class, we had to take computer programming, it was just, it was one of those things, we think this is going to be important so we learned how to like, you know, do the if and then type of statements and it was really really basic, and then it seemed to like drop off the map for a while. And obviously now it's starting to be, starting to become re-ingrained in what we do, but why did it between the late 80's, early 90's and now, there was a gap where, I mean it was always it's kind of there but as far as a priority, a curricular priority, I don't think it was there.Heidi Skodack 6:40 And that is absolutely true. What happened I mean, that was one of those like, Oregon Trail. Right?Larry Burden 6:46 Exactly.Heidi Skodack 6:47 Elementary school.Danelle Brostrom 6:48 Right.Heidi Skodack 6:49 So, but I do, I do think there in, in the past, you know, in the 90's people were using coding to do very particular jobs, right. And now everything you touch, a lot of times has some sort of coding in it. I mean, think about your cars, or your phones. I mean that was prior to cell phones really, that where everybody had a cell phone. So the technology that's been developed and just the amount of code that's needed to run those devices, and those different things has completely changed. So before it would be something large, like, you know when you're thinking about NASA, right? They're going to use, we would expect to see a bunch of coding in the 90's. But we didn't expect all those personal devices, and how rapidly the technology changed for the demand for that coding piece, and I also think it is part of that Maker Movement when you're able to go online and YouTube questions and answers on what you're trying to do yourself, and to try to problem solve those things, and do coding yourself. You can find thousands of web, websites that actually teach coding to all age groups.Danelle Brostrom 7:54 That is the most amazing piece of this. My nine year old wants an alarm for her bedroom door for Christmas, that can keep her sister out. And I can go,Heidi Skodack 8:03 She's gonna make it right.Danelle Brostrom 8:04 Exactly, that's the thing. Because of course that's what she wants. But we can buy one for like $40 on Amazon, and it's this kid friendly, blah, blah, blah, that has a swipe card and stuff, or I just googled, how to do it, and found awesome instructions that were in plain English, with items I can go purchase right here, and I'm just gonna give her a box of stuff and she's gonna build it, and she's gonna code it. Like we can we can get the Raspberry Pi, we can do all these things that can make things happen and I think that's exciting for kids, and that's exciting for us, and it's incredible to me the amount of what you can do yourself really.Heidi Skodack 8:40 And just the language like Raspberry Pi, right?Larry Burden 8:43 yeahHeidi Skodack 8:43 A lot of parents are like, the kids will ask for a Raspberry Pi and they're like, that's an easy gift. Run down to Grand Traverse Pie Company and pick up a rasberry pie.Danelle Brostrom 8:51 We could get one of those too but.Larry Burden 8:53 Just had one of those a couple days ago for Thanksgiving. It was fabulous.Heidi Skodack 8:58 That's the interesting piece is that language sometimes, there's a language barrier between kids and their parents. And a lot of times they're purchasing things for their students that are related to technology, and coding, and computer science that they know nothing about. They recognize very clearly the need for, you know, exposing their students to new and different things related to those areas but a lot of times they don't know anything about it. So it's, it's scary, because there's the technology piece, like a lot of times what you deal with Danelle, balanced with dude, they're asking for something about STEM and computer science, tell me what else you want?Danelle Brostrom 9:36 Yes, yes. So you mentioned the apprehension and not completely knowing everything and I totally see that when I'm out working with teachers, so tell us by the Hour of Code is such a perfect introduction, um such a perfect vehicle for teachers to do this.Heidi Skodack 9:49 So the Hour of Code walks teachers with zero, or anybody for that matter, because I mean, part of the goal is to get the teachers interested with their students. The other is, how do we engage parents to do the Hour of Code at home, so they can actually see not only how easy it is, but the resources that are available for them to help their students in the future. So Hour of Code is a step-by-step, small little videos that if you're in the lower El. grades, you can show the video on your screen and then do the steps with the students on their own devices that they have. But really walks them through step-by-step and engaging things. So the, the new one really this year, or maybe it was out last year is dance party. So everyone likes dance party because students get to develop a character that does certain dance moves. You can make it dab right?Danelle Brostrom 10:40 To Old Town Road, I may have been doing in my office this morning, it happens.Heidi Skodack 10:43 You can select, you know, is it a bear, is it a frog, and then select the music that the frog will dance to, and really walk them through the process of movement and using block coding, which is really the basic beginning part of coding is drag and drop. So, it really, very descript, tells you exactly what is going to happen, and then you select features, and then you drag and drop to take those blocks and put them into a program. So it does give you the option if you're more advanced to actually see the code that's actually spitting out. Because you and I remember the days of, you know, what code looked like is very different. Block coding wasn't around and you are actually typing all those things and putting, you know, your pseudo code next to it so the next person who comes behind you, knows what you are coding. So, very different, very accessible, drag and drop clicks. If you don't get it right, there's a helper at the top that you can click on and it will walk you through the steps to fix your programming if it doesn't work. Typically, you can do it under an hour, a lot of times if you have, if you're little kids a lot of times play with video games and things like that. So, it might take you under an hour to do it. Usually kids are faster than the teachers, when the teachers are just learning. But everybody has fun. Jame McCall is gonna do a little coding session for us too. We want to show how easy it is. I'm gonna see if I can recruit some, a couple principals.Larry Burden 12:08 If she could do it, everybody can do it.Heidi Skodack 12:10 Yes.Larry Burden 12:11 Sorry Jame, sorry,Heidi Skodack 12:13 So just to, just to show people with no experience have gone in and done a lesson on coding in an hour or less. And just that exposure to just that process, that thinking process of what do I want to do, you have to really think about what your end product is.Danelle Brostrom 12:29 Code.org has done an amazing job of bringing in all these different Hour of Code resources. They are there aren't just, you know, four or five that you get to pick from. There really are, maybe 100 different ones.Larry Burden 12:39 So many.Danelle Brostrom 12:40 Yep, and some are unplugged so some don't use any devices. There's some, some really really basic ones that are great for pre-readers, where they're just moving along. And then there's, like, like how you mentioned, the ones that are all the way where you can actually write the code, and you can actually develop your own app., or create something from scratch. I think the, the amount of options that are there can sometimes be overwhelming too, but as a teacher I just grabbed one and started playing it and was like, Oh, this one would be great for my kids. And like that, that's an easy way to, to kind of get started. And I cannot stress how user friendly the products are too, because I've been in a classroom with kids, and the kids are like, I'm stuck I don't know where to go, and I look at it and I have no idea where to go, and I can't figure out what the problem is, and I just asked. I'm like hey, anyone got puzzle eight on the Star Wars one, and then some kid comes over and helps them and I'm like woo. Yes, I don't have to do that one. But, just to see the kids persevere and get help from their neighbors, like there's, there's so many good skills that are happening when kids are doing this Hour of Code.Larry Burden 13:41 I can't stress this enough, pre-reader. This is for every single classroom in any school district, even without a device. I was talking to my wife this morning about Hour of Code. She has a toddler classroom.Heidi Skodack 13:41 Yes,Larry Burden 13:42 I'm pretty sure there's probably something for your classroom.Heidi Skodack 13:55 Yes there is, Pre-K.Larry Burden 13:59 So toddler, toddler, all the way to your seniors, every classroom in the school district, could be doing something involving Hour of Code. That's so cool.Heidi Skodack 14:12 And that's just a drop in the bucket, I mean Hour of Code is a drop a bucket. But it really could spur some interest in other things for the students. So, well worth it. So, I mean that's why we want to really blow up Hour of Code, create a little competition. I know really it's a joint collaboration between, you know STEM and the Technology Department to be able to support teachers as they attempt to do the Hour of Code with their students. So I'm really excited about it.Larry Burden 14:40 So, I have a question. How do we embed STEM education, this the big, this is the big question. This is going right in there. How do we embed STEM education in our curriculum, especially in that Lower-El, Upper-El area. You know, we have classes, and we're developing more classes in our high schools, in our middle schools. I don't think we've got enough, really, to and I don't think it's, it's mandated, the way we would probably really need it to be for it to be successful, as successful as it should be in our public schools, but I really think due to time constraints or, again, some mandates, what can we do to get it more embedded in our curriculum in those elementary years? Big question.Heidi Skodack 15:29 Well that, that is the question. I thought you had the answer to that.Larry Burden 15:35 Way above my pay grade.Danelle Brostrom 15:36 I promised her not difficult questions Larry.Heidi Skodack 15:40 That actually is an excellent question. It's one that we have struggled with for a long time because of the time constraints especially Elementary. So, one of the biggest things that came into play was, if we were talking about our Math and ELA, there's a little bit of a hierarchy to, you know, core curriculum. So, a lot of times, ELA and Math gets the majority of the time that teachers spend. And then Science and Social Studies, and the question is is where does STEM fit in. Because STEM stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and it's not those individually, it's the collaboration of all together, right? So where do we find places in the curriculum that already exist, where we can make sure that we're identifying and emphasizing those STEM activities that are taking place. It's really project-based, hands-on learning and the integration of all of that together. And so, the biggest question we had is, how are we going to fit it in? Our answer right now is that we are implementing the FOSS Science Curriculum, right. We're trying to kill two birds with one stone because FOSS has STEM embedded activities within the FOSS program. And so it's not only teaching science, but the students in their activities are incorporating those STEM pieces in there. So we're not only covering topics within, how you do a project-based learning related to STEM, but we're also covering our science standards within there. And so our avenue right now is using the FOSS curriculum to embed some of those STEM activities. Because, I was constantly brought back to the fact that we can do all these outside STEM activities: robotics, tech-girls, you know recycle racers, and the things that we offer in the district, but our goal is to reach every single student, and how do we give every single student the opportunity. Science and FOSS was the solution because it actually embedded it and we could use it all at the same time. Really, that was the passion, how can we include it where kids going to see it every day. So right now we have it rolled into fourth and fifth grade. Third tri we'll get it rolled into the FOSS science curriculum into third grade. So we'll have third, fourth, and fifth grade, with FOSS science and embedded STEM curriculum within those units of study for the students. So, not a full fix yet, but at least we know that we're at least getting it to every student in third, fourth, and fifth grade.Larry Burden 18:03 Definite step in the right direction.Danelle Brostrom 18:05 This kind of transformation isn't going to move as quickly as we want it to. It just isn't because it's so very different and you are talking about more of the project-based learning, and the making, and that's, it's just very different. So I think it's okay to work slowly in that respect.Heidi Skodack 18:21 And Danelle, you and I have had many conversations about silos, and breaking down those silos andDanelle Brostrom 18:26 That's hard,Heidi Skodack 18:26 It's when those pieces happen, when all those are coming together that you see awesome results and excitement in students for learning as well as a deeper understanding because they have the application.Larry Burden 18:40 It could be argued that the STEM curriculum is already there. It's the STEM mindset, and the STEM activities in the curriculum that isn't there. So really, it is, it's just finding, it's finding curriculum that has that, that Maker mindset involved. It's finding that math curriculum, or incorporating a Making mindset into the current math, math curriculum that will bring STEM into what we do in the classroom.Heidi Skodack 19:06 We'll get into it later I think when we talk about computational thinking. And, and those are all aspects of things we want students to experience and do, but it's about how you're doing that together as one instead of, I'm just going to do math, I'm just going to do science, I'm just going to do tech. It's when they all come together.Danelle Brostrom 19:24 And that's where our worlds overlap, because that's 100% what those ISTE Standards are about and specifically...Larry Burden 19:31 Great segue, that was awesome.Danelle Brostrom 19:32 I know right, I was already gonna talk about the computational thinking stuff, but, but yeah computational thinking is a big part of those ISTE Standards so even if the kids don't go into coding, when they're learning to code they're being a better thinker, and they're breaking up problems into simpler parts, and improving their designs over time. All those kinds of things are the core pieces of computational thinking, but they're good to know no matter what you're doing. Right? They're good everywhere, no matter what industry you're in. I mean, I can't tell you how many times, I'm not coding but I'm definitely trying to solve problems and changing up my plan because that didn't work.Heidi Skodack 20:08 Right, whether you're on the side of doing the coding, or on the other side where you're actually operating the machine that has all the coding in it. I mean, there has to be that thought process of, you know, what is happening when a problem occurs? You know, what, how do I solve that problem? Is it a call to tech right away for some support or is it something I problem solve myself? Because the, the tools that we're, even if you're not on the side of coding, the tools that we're using are so high tech now you have to be able to have some of those problem solving skills built in, no matter what your job is or where you are.Danelle Brostrom 20:39 Can you talk to us about the new K-12, Computer Science Standards? I'm so excited about these and I know you are too, so.Heidi Skodack 20:44 So, Computer Science Standards were adopted last year at the end of the year. And those really require all students to have K through 12, computer science experience. And again it's designed around the same things, the ISTE standards, the STEM Standards, getting more STEM into schools, and Computer Science Standards, and what those look like. The good news is, is that the, as a state we recognize the importance of it. Are we ahead of the game? Not at all. I don't think at all in Michigan as far as computer science goes. But we're getting there. And the point is, we're doing it right direction. We have a couple of things going in. I went to Computer Science Summit in Arkansas, believe it or not. So, to myself I said, really, there's a lot of computer science going on, Arkansas?Danelle Brostrom 20:45 Go check it out.Heidi Skodack 20:51 Yeah, go check it out. So I went. And, it really was a summit from all the governors throughout the United States that were there, and talked about what programs they were implementing, and what kind of funding they had behind the support. And Hattie he was there to talk to us. Had a good chat with him, and I was really interested in how far ahead Arkansas was, South Carolina was, in their implementation of computer science standards. But one of the things that was critical was the piece that number one, you had adopted standards in your state, and the second piece is that they had somebody leading it at the state level, which is coming as well. That's coming next, is where we will have a person that actually leads, what is the implementation of computer science going to look like in schools, and what resources do we have available. Because we know, sometimes we get mandates and we don't necessarily have all the resources. But it's how we respond to what is coming that really makes the difference. So I think our attempt at blowing up code.org or blowing up our code this year, we'll, we'll put a little bit of dent in it. But the standards are very clearly outlined, and they're very simple at the elementary levels, but it really is about the process of thinking and problem solving. It's going to be great, but it's also going to, we have to again, adjust and adapt to how is that going to fit in the curriculum. Do we force it in somewhere? So it's really about again, intentionally looking at what is already offered, where does it naturally make sense to put lessons and computer science in K through 12, and starting to think about it before we have some sort of mandate as far as what that's gonna look like. That work excites me, simply because it's good for kids and you're looking for ways to give them more exposureDanelle Brostrom 23:18 And Heidi, I have to say too I'm so excited to see the digital citizenship portions, and cybersecurity written into those K-12 Computer Science Standards because even, and I'm looking at the lower elementary standards right now, and they're talking about networks and the internet, explain what passwords are and why we use them, and why we have to use strong passwords to protect our devices. Like yes, and then there's under impacts of computing, work respectfully and responsibly with others online, keep logging information private, logoff devices appropriately. Like, all those things we talked about in the digital citizenship realm, I'm seeing embedded in these standards too, which is beautiful.Heidi Skodack 23:56 I mean, that becomes, just the way we do business.Larry Burden 23:59 If you're going to teach computer science, you probably should teach how to, teach our students how to do it appropriately.Danelle Brostrom 24:05 And how to do it safely.Larry Burden 24:06 It's a foundational, fundamental piece. We were talking about definitions earlier. So now you know we've dropped computer science and computer programming and STEM and all these things, and coding. They're all separate things. What are some of those definitions when we talk computer science, what are we, what are we saying?Danelle Brostrom 24:22 I get them all mixed up, I'll be honest. Help us Heidi.Heidi Skodack 24:27 I don't know if I have the answer to that one. Computer science is the broader picture, right? Computer science really encompasses all those different areas, and jobs and activities, like the umbrella that then coding and programming, you know, would be under. That's how I would probably define it.Larry Burden 24:45 I think it's important to say that because I think sometimes especially our students and maybe even our parents have a, they see computer science, and they immediately think okay this is Calc three minimum. We're talking about this fear of math that we're trying to get over. And the,Heidi Skodack 24:46 What is that? I don't now what that is.Larry Burden 25:06 And I think sometimes when we say computer science, people immediately go there and that's not, it's so much more than that. A softening of that definition for people that are looking. Again, I'm, I'm looking at marketing to my child. And I'm thinking, if I say, well, honey, you need to pursue a career in computer science.Danelle Brostrom 25:29 Think that's nerds behind their computer, but it's not!Larry Burden 25:33 Yeah that's probably not going to be successful so. But then if I started talking about what coding means, and what programming means, and what work in a 3D realm means, and all the, all the potential applications of computer science, suddenly, that's a lot, shinier.Heidi Skodack 25:51 I think a lot of times when you think of it related to careers. So, if you take those, that language out of there. I mean now that you have to, but if you take the language out of there about coding, and computer science but if you're working with students, you're talking about what are you interested in for your careers, and connecting those pathways of how is computer science embedded in those careers that you think you want to do? That's where you get kids connected. You know, if you talk about computer science or coding, they picture somebody in a cube farm all day just doing coding. That's not what it is. You know computer science could be thousands and thousands of careers related to computer science that people don't realize that, that are there. I mean, I think about the engineering classes at West and at Central, and even in their laser cutting machines and their small CNC machines that they have, that's all computer programming. So the person that's operating that and designing, doing the design and the making, and making decisions on where should that piece be cut out, how deep should the cut be and what is the location on the X, Y and Z axis, that's all, that's all related to computer science and coding. So I think when you have it in the conversations of careers, and then talk about how those computer science principles are linked to those, then that kind of breaks down a few barriers, than the picture of somebody sitting in a cube farm coding.Danelle Brostrom 27:12 I think the more we can lean on their passions too, and then help show them how they can connect. Again, I think of my own child who her passions are animals, and taking things apart, and creating things. And then I watched her, she was reading that "Beauty and the Beak," book where they 3D print the beak for the eagle who doesn't have one, or it gets broken or somehow. And I remember seeing her eyes light up and she was like, "I could do this," and it was like, yes, yes you could. So just sometimes it's connecting those dots for kids because they don't realize that their passion for dance could go along with this really cool thing where they're coding the LED lights on the dance, you know what I mean it just, just connecting those dots.Heidi Skodack 27:54 You know the design prosthetics which what you're talking about which has been, that field has completely changed. Because if you remember this, I always found this interesting because I thought, god if I was going to school again that would be very interesting to me. Right. You know when you think about prosthetics that were done in the 90's right, compared to what we see now, it's basically an artistry, that they do. It's out of chrome, and different materials, and metals and, and the design, in that art piece that design piece is an element that is seen throughout. As well as materials. I mean that science behind, behind the materials that they're choosing. I mean if you're running in the Paralympics we see the different things that they use there. But just that change in, it's not only functional, but it's aesthetically pleasing, and you're making decisions on materials and design. So, that area was always of interest to me because that has changed so rapidly lately.Danelle Brostrom 28:52 There's your "A," Larry. Your "A," in STEAM.Larry Burden 28:55 I was going to bring that up, so what subjects, this is on code.org, their little marketing slideshow had a slide, what subjects do students like a lot in high school? Not surprisingly, the highest was art and design, second was performing arts, third, computer science and engineering. Now I would argue, art and design right now is computer science. If you're going to get into the field of Art and Design, well not even behind. I mean if you're doing, and certainly in performing arts, if you're doing anything in, in theater in the background or in film in the background. You're going to do 3D modeling. You're going to, it's all programming now, it's all computer science, it's all understanding those processes. If you're in computer gaming and doing the art for that, 3D modeling, 3D rendering. Art and design and performing arts, just wrap it into the computer sciences, really. It doesn't sound as sexy.Heidi Skodack 29:52 Yes, and even in architecture. The flip time, and the expectation of time to get a set of plans done in do that modeling, that visualization modeling, completely changed. You used to have weeks in between and now the expectation because we have all these tools, because of computer science that we're able to use and do projects more quickly, right. So now we're spending our money on technology, and our time is decreasing, but the expectation is increasing, of what the expectations are. Same thing in theater arts, when you're designing those stagecraft, and,Larry Burden 30:28 Those sets that they put together now.Heidi Skodack 30:29 Those sets are done all ahead of time, including like how they're going to work. So those moveable pieces, like what do those gears look like, and how is that rotating. So more time is spent on the pre-planning, than it is on actually the design, construct, building so that is all done ahead of time in the design process that's amazing.Danelle Brostrom 30:49 Heidi are we still seeing a gap in the amount of girls and minorities that are going into STEM fields, and doing coding or is that kind of changing do you think?Heidi Skodack 30:57 It is changing. We're doing better, but we're still not there yet. Females and minorities in general, you know, to increase enrollment and excitement about going into those fields is super important. To have those diverse conversations with different people at the table is super important. So the more we can help students or guide them in that direction, you know you don't want to force somebody, you know, to do it. But certainly, you have to make sure that they had an opportunity to make that choice.Danelle Brostrom 31:25 For sure.Larry Burden 31:26 An educated choice.Heidi Skodack 31:27 Yes.Danelle Brostrom 31:27 And girls will typically look at coding in different ways to. Like isn't it true that they'll try to fix the problem, or try to create something that will make a difference. Like that's kind of what usually brings girls to the table. We need those kinds of, of students. And I love what you're doing with TechGirls. Can you talk about TechGirls real quick because I think that's such a cool thing that we're doing in our region.Heidi Skodack 31:46 TechGirls, I actually started a group when I was in Farmington, but we started a group up here at Central in 2016, and their mission really is to increase awareness for females and minorities in anything related to STEM. And they won a grant last year to allow them to expand to West Senior High. They reached out to Elk Rapids, and did a lesson with a second grade class. Within the community, they volunteer at a Senior Citizens Center, helping them with their technology. They've done Recycle Racers with our kids at Eastern and then throughout the district last year. But really, their mission is to, you know, really build that mentorship so it's so important for them to see young women in those roles of leaders, that are leading those areas of technology and in STEM, and to know that there's a pathway for them moving forward. One of our TechGirls actually, you probably already heard the news on her last year, was Elizabeth Sanders won the Congressional App Award, and went to Washington DC, based on an app that she designed. And her app, of course, right about helping people. So her's was the Calc-u-saver, and you can actually download it online, and looks like a calculator, but if you're in a dangerous situation you can punch in your numbers, looks like a calculator, and it will send a message to your person to say, you know, come and pick me up. It has the location sensor on it you know, so they know where to pick you up and to call you back to get you out of that situation that you feel is uncomfortable or dangerous. So kudos to,Danelle Brostrom 33:23 It's amazing.Heidi Skodack 33:24 our TechGirl. So we're still working to expand that. I mean the goal would be lovely to have it at every school in the district but slow growth there. But we're working on it.Danelle Brostrom 33:33 But you are, I mean you kind of do have it in every school because the little's see these high school girls that are, you know, it's a high schooler who, who's interested in the same kinds of things I am, and they're so cool, and I could do that. So, I mean I know that they're just based at our secondaries but man, the impact is so cool across the district.Heidi Skodack 33:54 Getting there. And they're a great group of girls, and they volunteer for just about anything. And we can always count on them. So super proud of them.Larry Burden 34:01 I have to say last question, if you have any other questions 'cause we are way over.Danelle Brostrom 34:07 Well I was just gonna say, is there anything else that, that we didn't touch on that, that you want to share, that you want to talk about. Anything that you're like, oh, I wish they would have asked me that.Heidi Skodack 34:15 Just that Hour of Code, the dates for the Hour of Code are December 9 through the 15th, but we've actually extended it through the 18th. Just make sure you get in your Hour of Code, and if there's any teachers that are interested or need help, contact, Danelle or myself, and we'll be happy to get them set up. Our goal was to create a competition, we want to see how many east side versus west side we're able to do the coding, and kind of have a leaderboard that's going to be on a website that we'll share with teachers and principals.Larry Burden 34:46 Sounds great. TechTool of the Week!TechTool of the Week 34:51 TechTool of the week, I just want to mention there are a ton of great resources for educators who are interested in doing coding in their classroom. Code.org has the HourofCode.com. There are posters that you can download and hang up. There are stickers that you can order. Then all of the different activities, and games, and things. And then don't forget about REMC, our local REMC has some different items that you can do coding with. If you go into their system and search for STEM, you can get things like: bloxals, Dash and Dot, Little Bits, Ozobots, Fearow and the drone, all those kinds of things you can do coding with as well, and they're, they're hands on. And then, if you're not local there are other REMC's do different things. Some REMC's I know have Microbits or the Osmos that you can check out that you can do coding with. But just definitely check and see what your REMC offers through that Classroom Makers Project because there are a lot of great resources over there.Larry Burden 35:42 You mentioned drones and we should have hit on the drone thing. We'll get it next time, we'll get it next time. Tutorials and updates, just wanted to say, you know, last week we did that, the annual EdTech Loop Gift Guide, there's some great STEM gifts, great STEM gifts in that guide, so give that a listen, that pod listen. It was a really fun show. I want to also give a shout out to an upcoming special 100th episode of the EdTech Loop podcast on digital citizenship. It is like a digital citizenship blowout. Has all the information so look for that in the upcoming weeks. In closing, follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @tcapsloopDanelle Brostrom 36:19 @brostromdaHeidi Skodack 36:20 @skodackLarry Burden 36:21 Bam! Subscribe to the podcast on Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher, Tune-in, Downcast, Overcast, the Google Play Store, Spotify or wherever else you get your ear candy. Leave a review, we'd love the feedback. Thanks for listening and inspiring.Danelle Brostrom 36:38 I can't see the time from where I'm sitting.

Like much of the world, Australian educators are increasingly embracing STEM education for younger students. Chris Perkins is one such teacher at Keithcot Farm Primary School outside Adelaide, South Australia. He talks about a range of issues on his radar as a STEM teacher, including how he stays up-to-date, Australian inventions, how New South Wales is a leader in that country for education, and more. For a video of the robot arm that Chris mentioned, see it here: https://youtu.be/L9rG8cD3pxQ The cover art for this episode comes from Gilbert Toyne's 1925 Australian patent on the rotary clothesline: http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/ Related to this episode: • STEM Everyday: http://dailystem.com/stem-everyday-podcast/ • Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/twenty-one-elephants-and-still-standing-by-april-jones-prince/ • 44% of teachers leave after 5 years: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2018/10/today_teaching_force_richard_ingersoll.html • Australian curriculum: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ • Year 7 to high school: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites-and-facilities/year-7-high-school • Beebots: https://www.terrapinlogo.com/beebot.html • Ozobots: https://ozobot.com/ • Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots: https://education.lego.com/en-us/shop/mindstorms-ev3 • Video of robot arm on website: https://youtu.be/L9rG8cD3pxQ • Rotary hills hoist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hills_Hoist • Australia's Top 10 Inventions: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/01/australias-top-10-inventions-the-victa-lawn-mower/ • World Solar Car Challenge: https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/ • Solar tiles article: https://theconversation.com/we-can-make-roof-tiles-with-built-in-solar-cells-now-the-challenge-is-to-make-them-cheaper-123775 • Wave energy: https://e360.yale.edu/features/why_wave_power_has_lagged_far_behind_as_energy_source • Texas A&M research on wave energy: https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2019/02/could-the-ocean-be-the-answer-to-a-clean-energy-supply.html • Food scientist and cook Ann Reardon debunking viral food videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26m8NmKPzUI • Verification and Validation, past episode: http://www.k12engineering.net/episodes/45 Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

Why is STEM so important in Michigan right now? Because Michigan businesses need STEM educated workers and currently those workers are not available. Businesses struggle to understand why it appears public education is not producing the workforce they need, while educators are attempting to teach kids collaboration, creative thinking and other 21st Century Skills, while navigating another legislative edict, state standards, and school district goals. Our guest Drea Weiner from MiSTEM is attempting to repair that disconnect, and helping to make education applicable to a real world setting by fitting STEM into the curriculum to meet the needs that businesses are desperately crying out for.Elementary is Engineering WorkshopNovember 26thTCAPS Sabin Data Center Acronym ListMiSTEM - Michigan Science, Technology, Engineering and Math NetworkTBAISD - Traverse Bay Intermediate School DistrictCHAREMISD - Charelvoix - Emmet Intermediate School DistrictELA - English Language ArtsREMC - Regional Education Materials CenterMETS - Michigan Education Technology SpecialistsEVR - Experience Verification RouteEIE - Elementary is EngineeringREMC RITS - REMC Instructional Technology SpecialistsSEL - Social Emotional LearningDigCit - Digital Citizenship  Full Transcript:Drea Weiner 0:02 I'm pretending like I know what I'm doing but I don't actually know what I'm doing most days.Larry Burden 0:11 The most important thing we can teach our kids is to recognize that everybody's just winging it.Drea Weiner 0:15 Because you need to integrate that with your content.Larry Burden 0:19 I want to do that. That looks like more fun.Larry Burden 0:26 It's Episode 97 of the EdTechLoop podcast. My name is Larry Burden and she's been attempting to 3D print snow tires for her Hyundai Elantra, it's Danelle Brostrom, and we are also joined by Northern Michigan Sensei of STEM, it's Drea Weiner. Multiple snow days have allowed for additional time to meditate on this week's moment of Zen.Moment of Zen 0:47 To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake. It is necessary to stand out in the cold.Larry Burden 0:52 After several field attempts to brave the icy roads we've decided to stay home and fabricate this week's meat of the show. STEM heats up in Northern Michigan.Danelle Brostrom 1:03 I wasn't ready for any of that Larry.Larry Burden 1:03 I worked really hard to come up with a title.Danelle Brostrom 1:03 It took you all week to write, didn't it?Larry Burden 1:04 So I worked...Larry Burden 1:10 Naw, about the last 15 minutes. Come on, there's no prep here. Okay, so thank you for joining us Drea, because I know your schedule is crazy. We've got tons of questions about what you do and what's happening with STEM in northern Michigan. I don't think we've actually covered a lot of STEM so far this year now so fill us in.Drea Weiner 1:34 First one in. So yeah, so I'm the Regional Director for the MiSTEM network, and the MiSTEM network is a statewide effort to make sure that there's a cross curricular look at science, technology, engineering and mathematics, are we teaching those areas, are we teaching them in an integrated way, are we teaching them in a way that prepare our students for life beyond school, are we teaching them in a way that's applicable to the workforce. So that's kind of MiSTEM network, in a nutshell. I can talk to you about that for like hours on end but we'll, we'll end on that particular note.Larry Burden 2:07 go ahead, you've got questions galore. Don't wait for me to just jump right in.Danelle Brostrom 2:11 No, I'm just curious about the connection with business, you know and typically in schools we think about how, how we're teaching these skills, kind of on our own. Can you talk to me about the connection with business, why is that important?Drea Weiner 2:22 So I would say that this is important because right now in Michigan, businesses do not want to engage, they do not want to invest in education. They do not understand the importance of engaging in education because they're having to do a lot of apprenticeships, a lot of workforce, work based learning within their own house because kids do not have the skill sets and which they need, and that's everything that's been expressed for me, like kids cannot problem solve, kids cannot critically think, they're not showing up on time, they don't have basic mathematics skills, they don't understand taxes which is, I don't know if I always fully understand taxes to be completely honest, but like having to sit down and explain, like here's the math on how you budget out your life because we do withhold your taxes from, from this end of things. So, from the business end of things they're just like we, we don't understand, you're not giving us what we need. Now from the educator side of things, here really like we're in charge of these kids from eight until three or whatever your school day is and like we're teaching your kids collaboration, and how to talk to each other, and here's the content that we're teaching in them, and here's like another legislative edict, and here's what our school districts coming from and, like, there's all these different components from a teacher's perspective over what they're having to do as well. And there's a disconnect between why a kid has to learn fractions in elementary school and like how that actually gets applied in the workforce, because Danielle you and I've worked with 3D printing and looking at decimal places, and so, for engineers when they're creating prototypes, if something's off by a fraction, you need to want to understand what that fraction is and two, understand like, if your material shrink by 1%, how do you change that to make sure that like, your materials don't shrink, and that your prototype is actually fitting when it's supposed to fit. And that's, and that's really the disconnect that we're trying to close with like how is your education applicable to a real world setting as well, and fitting that need that businesses are desperately crying out for because there are some people that will hire you for $60,000 on the floor in a manufacturing plant, and I'm pretty sure that's not the entry level of a teacher. So, like how do, we how do we make sure that kids can also get jobs, and stay in your communities, and be able to contribute to the economy. Once again, that's another like huge...Danelle Brostrom 4:46 But this is such an important thing but it's a large task Drea. How are you, how are you getting started with this and how is the MiSTEM network finding a place where they can connect businesses and educators.Drea Weiner 4:58 Yeah, so part of that is right now I'm doing a needs assessment of the whole region. So I covered TBAISD and I cover CHAREMISD. And so it's everything from looking at assessment scores, looking at what are the needs of the teachers have expressed to me, it's looking at the workforce data over what's projected to grow in the next 10 years. It's looking at, okay so if I'm going out and meeting with companies, what are the top five things coming up, like bubbling up through those conversations. Trying to figure out where these needs, and what's being discussed, and like how do those align. And it is a huge task, and I'm not in any way shape or form getting it right, right off the bat, but it's kind of one of those things that like how do I make sure that we're building in that iterative process of like, okay so, last year I've heard a lot of teachers needing like, I need help for supplies first because science is more expensive than an ELA project in your classroom. I need help. And I was just like, okay, I'll figure out how I can help you. Well, now that we're there, how do we, how do we move forward with like what is this cross curricular component look like, who's actually doing it in your classrooms, or who's, who's trying to do it but just needs help, who are the resources like yourself to reach out to, how do we get the workshops, like code.org and CS Fundamentals to the areas that need them. Like it's, a it's a lot and it requires a lot of people to bring to the table. It requires us to look at how we're currently using our resources, because my, my grant dollars and my dollars come from the state are meant to be generative and so, who else can I get to the table, in order to have an event or not even just an event, to have a program. And some of its, you know, here's how the ISD and I partner, because they are my fiscal. And here's how a business can come to the table and like, you know what I want an intern, and I'm like, great, which teachers have students that can actually, that are ready for an internship. Because that's part of it as well, the bringing people a table and let's talk about what these needs are saying.Danelle Brostrom 7:01 And you said there's a whole network throughout Michigan of people just like you so if listeners aren't local to the TBAISD or CHAREM area, they, how would they find their MiSTEM person so they could learn more about this.Drea Weiner 7:15 So I would go to michigan.gov/MiSTEM. You will be able to find your director there. And then part of its also reaching out to the other net, networks like REMC, like METS, the Math and Science Center Network etc.. Trying to figure out like, okay, so who are the, who are the people that I can connect with. I would start with the MiSTEM state site for, how do I connect with you.Danelle Brostrom 7:39 The workforce wants these specific set of skills. Why is STEM the vehicle to get our kids there.Drea Weiner 7:46 I would say, because it allows for a way that shows students how learning can be cross curricular and it shows how it can be applicable. So if you're working with, oh, I'm going to fall back on manufacturing because it's my experience. If a manufacturer for example wants an intern, they're going to go look for a student that has engineering experience, they're going to go look for a student that has solid science experience, they're going to look for a student whose teachers going to say, yeah, this kid shows up on time, apologizes when they don't show up on time, has the basic mathematics skills in order to push them forward, they asked for help, that was a huge one that's been coming up lately. You know, wide variety of my conversations of like, the kids, these kids know how to ask for help. And I would say STEM, like, a lot of the careers moving forward, are based in those four arenas. And like, more and more the workforce is working from home, you've got telecommuting going on. We actually have a really strong Computer Science Programmer base here in Traverse City that most people don't know about because they're all working from home. Yeah, if you're a homebody and you like to work from home and you've got solid, computer science skills like, people in New York City would rather hire someone from Traverse City than someone who lives in New York because it's a fraction of the price, and it's pretty competitive. Or go to the co-op if you do need to work with people. So that's another skill set that I don't think many teachers are aware of because most people don't realize, I won't say most people, I would say people who traditionally have to show up at a space for work, um, don't fully understand what it means to work from home. So if you're a kid that can't do an online course, like you have to have a lot of self regulation skills to be able to work from home. Because like, there are days where I work from home and it's great. I get to sit down and actually focus on what's going on. There are days where I'm just too distracted by how cute my cats are, and I have to go into the office because I will get nothing done. So that's, that's another example of the disconnect.Larry Burden 9:48 You mentioned teachers a lot.Drea Weiner 9:50 Yeah,Larry Burden 9:50 And a concern that I have, or a question that I have is, is it teachers to MiSTEM, or is it District to MiSTEM? It seems like we're asking a teacher to do a lot,Drea Weiner 10:04 Yeah,Larry Burden 10:04 without support from the District, and it's such a large thing that we're asking them to do, I mean we're basically asking them to to look at their curriculum and figure out ways to fit, fit STEM in. It doesn't seem like that should necessarily be the teachers, I mean, it really doesn't seem like it should be the teacher's job or all on the teacher. It seems like the District should be supporting the teacher in their curriculum to allow for something as important as STEM to be embedded in what they do every day. It should just be there. How are we having those conversations.Drea Weiner 10:39 Yeah, so I'm really, Yeah, I'm really glad that you brought that up because that is another layer of the MiSTEM network of looking at how do we talk with our district, districts. Because it should, in my opinion, it's got to be both. You have to have those gorilla educator teachers who, who are doing this regardless. Who's like, this look ,this work...Larry Burden 10:56 Pushing it forward.Drea Weiner 10:56 Pushing it forward, especially for an administrator who didn't teach that way. I've seen EVR I've been talking to people about CPM, Classroom Makers, over like a lot of that, students will show you their learning, how do you stop talking at the kids and help guide them through their learning. And that's an evolution from where some people were in the classroom you know maybe 20 years ago. And so, the, there's the flip side of that like okay, how does the district move forward with the research of what good learning looks like, and how do they support the teachers that way as well. And so that's a, that's another conversation and sometimes it's packing people up in the car and going to a school where they're doing that. And sometimes it's, you know, bringing people to the table or having business and education just sit at the same table and talk about what that means, and sometimes it's a district administrator, sometimes it's a principal, sometimes it's a teacher. So, yeah, that is a lot to ask teachers, and in no way shape or form do I expect every teacher to be like, yeah, let's go for this and like, if you don't have the support of your admin you're either one, not going to do it right, two not do it all, or three, do it but also have a really uphill battle.Larry Burden 12:09 The resources end up, I mean we've seen it so many times in the classroom, a teacher has a great idea, or wants to pursue this, and the energy, the time, the resources, run out, or they move.Drea Weiner 12:24 Yeah.Larry Burden 12:24 So something happens at this one school and it's getting some traction but then the teacher gets moved to x school and then...Drea Weiner 12:31 it's gone, because they take it to that school, yeah.Larry Burden 12:34 And it's hard to get any real traction if it's not, kind of, site or District based. And I've just seen it too many times where they have that STEM classroom, and it's dedicated, and it's all good and then next year it's a closet.Drea Weiner 12:49 Yeah, and I would say like from my vision, my personal one, I wouldn't say this is necessarily the whole MiSTEM networks vision, is that every teacher is comfortable with STEM. Like, long term, years down the road, like anyone is comfortable, like here's where, you know what we're going to do a literature and science lesson, and we're going to time together today, because I think everyone needs those skills, but until you have people from the administrative side of things and the teachers working together in that space, it's, it's going to be frustrating. And it's going, it's going to continue with teachers popping around and kids either getting it or not getting it depending on where that teacher, or helpful administrator is so.Larry Burden 13:29 So there's a thing that's happening that maybe administrators and teachers should maybe get involved in. Isn't there like a workshop coming up.Drea Weiner 13:35 Oh yeah, we've got our Elementary is Engineering Workshop, coming up pretty quickly here, which by the way you get a free Elementary is Engineering kit, if you decide to attend.Larry Burden 13:46 Plug away.Drea Weiner 13:47 Yeah.Drea Weiner 13:48 So Heidi Skodeck is the one who's running the workshop for us, and she's been fantastic in helping me plan this, and it's been a long time coming. And so, here's a way that, here's a program that looks at how do you apply engineering in an elementary classroom. It's all tied to a story about a something related to other solar ovens, or building bridges or, I think designing circuits. So if you, if you do circuits with your kiddos, or you, or if you've designed solar ovens with your kiddos before just here's another way that you can do it that's also ties back to some of your standards and, you know, Heidi Skodeck your STEM person is on board for this, so like you know you're going to get some level of support in addition to, you're going to walk away with, you get to choose from one of those three kits to have that go back in your classroom. And I know, that you guys have the materials in your Elementary Materials Center to check out more kits, if you decide that you really like Elementary is Engineering.Larry Burden 14:46 I think this is a great model for this. So we have the MiSTEM network partnering with our, a District administrator, working with district resources to support teachers.Drea Weiner 14:56 And MiSTEM resources as well, yeah.Larry Burden 14:58 Exactly.Drea Weiner 14:58 And that's kind of, that's kind of what this is supposed to do, is like, the one kit that you get to take home back and keep your classroom, like that's technically coming out of my funds. There'll be a sticker on it but overall I don't care. There's more resources back in your Elementary Material Center that you guys can just check out, and that you don't have to worry about how am I going to replenish this kit once I use all the consumables because you have the Center for that.Danelle Brostrom 15:18 I will say to, kudos for choosing that program because I think the Engineering is Elementary kit and their philosophy is phenomenal. It is top notch for kids, and I also think it's great for, you know you mentioned educators that have built solar ovens before and want something different, I think it's great for the educator who has no clue what they're doing and it's just excited about trying to help kids learn.Larry Burden 15:39 Yeah.Danelle Brostrom 15:39 It's very easy to get into.Drea Weiner 15:41 Yeah. And honestly, so how I'm structured is that there's me and then I have an advisory council from the local level. And I have an education subcommittee of that and so Heidi sits on that board, Annette Cole that's on that committee, but then Shelly VanderMeulan, who used to work in your Elementary Material Center sit's on it. Michael George sits on it. We've got someone from CHAREM and the NMLC group that sits on it. And then we've got a teacher from Greenspire who sits on it too. So here's our education resource within the committee and like they're the ones who actually self identified that because they recognize that we're not doing a lot of engineering or science at the elementary level, and they're just like you know what we've used this before and it's a pretty easy entry toward, that's not scary for teachers to use.Larry Burden 16:27 Give us the details for the Workshop.Drea Weiner 16:28 OK, so the Workshop, you can register on our MiSTEM page for the local one. So my local link is MiSTEM.tbaisd.org. And TBA my fiscal so, what, I service many organizations, but they are my fiscal so the their name gets in the URL right now. And so you go under, Educators, there's a whole resource for you, for you guys that lists out any workshops that's going to be popping up in the area. And you would go, the registration link is there. If you are struggling with your administrator for sub costs, what you would be able to do though is that we actually have a Teacher Professional Learning Scholarship that you can apply for, and be like, oh, okay, great, you know what, you're willing to cover my sub costs, great, if you're not from within TCAPS and, like, then you're starting to get the argument over, well the drive to Northport, we don't know if we can, like pay your gas, or your mileage, or what happens if a snowstorm happens. You can also apply for that, for that scholarship as well and we'll pay your mileage and whatnot. And that's not just for this workshop, that's for any workshop or conference. If you want to go to MACUL let us know, we're going to do a carpool down there, I'm sure. But like, that, that's what that scholarship is for is to make sure that you guys can attend this workshop. The workshop itself is November 26. We need you to register as soon as possible. It will be first come first serve so I'll let you guys know when it is full. I will feed you so you don't walk away hungry that day. The rest is all on Heidi. Like she's, she's going to be the one leading you guys through it.Danelle Brostrom 18:05 Now you also have many grants available right now.Drea Weiner 18:08 Yeah,Danelle Brostrom 18:08 Can you talk about those?Drea Weiner 18:09 This is my second year as Regional Director, and I spent a lot of time listening to educators both out and about in the community and also in their classroom. Listening to the different consultants both from within TCAPS, and within TBA, and listening to my fellow MiSTEM Directors. So what came up from all of those conversations was, we don't have the resources. How can we just try this if, like I don't want to spend $1,000 or $500 on additional materials like out of my own pocket. So we created a mini grant system where like, okay you've got an a, an idea of how you can bring STEM into your classroom, great. For the first tier, which is, I just want to try something, $500, I just want to try. Great, come, apply, we'll review it to make sure that you've actually thought it through. This is not meant for, oh, we're out of crayons in our classroom, or we're, like it's not meant to replenish anything, it's meant to actually be for a project of some kind.Larry Burden 19:09 I really think Ozobots are cool but I don't have a plan to do it.Drea Weiner 19:12 Yeah, something like that, or hey I really want to start a Blockables in my classroom, or I want a set of iPads, but I don't know what, you would do in fact have to think about what this is through. Or, like, once again, if you want to go to the EIE workshop and you'll find another one that you really want but maybe you're a little worried about like, when you're going to get your stuff. You can apply for this grant and get a whole nother kit to try. It's really meant to be like, think about what you want to try in your classroom. Here's some funds for this. It is meant for materials, not for just like hiring in a consultant or something like that to come into your classroom. It is that for materials for you to do. But like, that's what that's for. And then we have a second tier, which is $1,000, where if you're working in a team environment that includes business or the community that's, that's a little bit more meaningful, that's showing like, here's how it's a little bit more cross curricular, this is how we're bringing in the workforce component. Like, for example, if you're, if you've decided to code.org like all their resources for code.org are free, but you, there are programmers here in town who are very much aware that computer science is not necessarily being taught in our schools and they want it to because their kids are here in these schools, and they're just like you know what let's use Microbits in the classroom. But Microbits are $15 a pop not including the alligator clips and how do we, who's going to teach the kids the Python. Well then you can bring in, you can purchase all the stuff for the micro bits, you can bring in the community partner to help the kids with what your programming is going to be, but also Microbits has a free curriculum that's either tied to code.org their own thing, Project Lead the Way, I think there's one more I'm not entirely sure. But anyways, there's at least those three that you can apply to your classroom, but you do need some seed funding to purchase the materials for your class. And that's what the thousand dollar one is for, because we really want people talking to each other. We really want people reaching out to each other over like, what does this look like. And so those applications, which also can be found on our website, are due, November 27th, with the goal to have them announced in December, so you can do this right after the school, no the turn of the year, and give us your feedback and your evaluations before the end of the school year so you're not losing your mind. So that's, that's what the mini grants are for. And I...Larry Burden 21:34 You have all the resources.Drea Weiner 21:36 Not all of them but I'm trying, I'm trying pretty hard. Yeah, and so, and that came out of, that idea came out of actually another region, another MiSTEM region in the state was doing it, and they didn't reach 100% saturation, but it allowed for certain schools who typically either get forgotten or lost to explore how to do STEM in their classrooms. And once again, I'm not prescribing what you do, you do have to think it through, you do have to tie it to your standards, you do. And if you need help reaching out to a community member I've got people who can help you with that. There's that part as well, because I know, reaching out to community members can be scary. You still have to have a, have at least thought it through. Because if you give me an application that it looks like you're just purchasing classroom materials and that's it, I'm going to tell you no on that one, so.Danelle Brostrom 22:25 So what do you hope for in terms of the future of this program?Drea Weiner 22:28 Oh my gosh, so I hope for, oh, gosh,Larry Burden 22:32 World domination?Drea Weiner 22:33 World domination in STEM! Um, what I'm really hoping for is that teachers feel empowered by, well by their administrators, by the state, by community partners to try things out in their classroom, and to not feel the fear of how does this tie back into what I'm doing. Like you, you have people you can go out and ask questions to. I'm hoping that kids are thinking, like, maybe you ask the kids what they want to do. We want to work on an erosion project, or we want to go to the bay and count like how many birds have died from whatever bird flu is going on. Like, you know, how do you bring in the student voice to this. How do you have a full supportive community coming in saying this is how, these are our issues, please kids come solve this, because I think that's another component, or how do we expose kids to these type of careers that no one knows are going to be out there in 20 years.Larry Burden 23:31 It seems like, you know, I think STEM gets labeled or viewed sometimes as coding.Drea Weiner 23:36 Yeah,Larry Burden 23:37 It's coding, you know, and so...Drea Weiner 23:38 or it's FIRST Robotics and exclusively FIRST Robotics.Larry Burden 23:41 Exactly whereas, whereas really it's more about problem solving, it's taking, its taking learning and making it applicable.Drea Weiner 23:47 If you're talking about food chains, okay, let's talk about the invasive species that are found out in our bay. Let's talk about like, why is it important for the micro plastics, that from the 3D printers, how do we make sure that those do not wind up in our food chain and wind up in the fish that we also eat when we go fishin'. You know, how does that affect us? And, you know, we talk about food chains, we talk about food webs, we talk about, you know pollution on some level, what does that actually mean? That's what it's all about.Larry Burden 24:17 It's really, it's just good practice, it's good educational practice.Drea Weiner 24:20 Yeah.Larry Burden 24:21 We just have to maybe take that one, one extra step, that one courageous step away from what's, what's built into the curriculum we're getting from wherever we're getting our curriculum from, and going okay how can this be applied to something that our students care about.Drea Weiner 24:40 Yeah.Danelle Brostrom 24:41 And I love the State of Michigan is saying that this is valuable. They're, they're putting money behind it, they're not just giving us some other mandate that we have to do. They're saying this is important and we're going to give you people that will help guide you and make this happen, so it's fortunate.Drea Weiner 24:53 Yeah, Yeah. And I would also say that our Legis., a lot of my work is Legislator based. That's where some of my requirements come from, which a lot of those are listening to the businesses. And so I'm someone where if something doesn't make sense, a teacher can be like, Drea, here's my concern, this is what's popping up, and if it's something that is systemic, because let's face it, a lot of these issues are systemic, I get to go down to Lansing and advocate for what's going on. And the Executive Director of the program. Megan Schrauben, and she's the one who, like meets with the governor's office saying, okay here's where we're struggling with in STEM education, and you really need to listen to this. So that's, that's another piece of what I do like I don't get to spend the days in the classrooms with the kiddos and see like them doing it every day, most days. But I at least get to like take those stories with me and, and advocate.Larry Burden 25:48 So, Tech Tool of the Week!Techtool of the Week 25:52 Tech Tool of the Week, I want to talk about the STEM in Literature Project. Drea, Would you like to tell us a little bit about that.Drea Weiner 25:57 Oh sure, I'm gonna have to let everyone know that my hat is shifting here a little bit I'm not just the MiSTEM Regional Director for us. I'm also one of the REMC RITS members for us. And this,Larry Burden 26:11 I just want to stop really quick. We're going to have an acronym, like list, because you've thrown about seven of them out and they usually stop and go, and what does that mean, but we're just gonna let this go.Drea Weiner 26:24 Once again I work with Legislators so I like it doesn't, I have now like become so accustomed to them I don't even realize it using them anymore.Danelle Brostrom 26:32 That's okay.Drea Weiner 26:33 Yeah, SEL, that was a new one I had to teach one of my co workers this week it was great social emotional learning. All right. Yeah,Danelle Brostrom 26:40 STEM in Literature Project, tell us.Drea Weiner 26:42 Promoting STEM through Literature Project. Okay, so this came out of the REMC Classroom Makers Project. And I think the thought was a, first of all this, I do not own this project, one, it is a REMC project, and two, Judy Bowling, and Kerry Giuliano are the wonderful, masterful ladies throughout the state who came up with this project and have been promoting it at every single ed tech conferences this summer. And this year, they are doing full day workshops throughout the state of how do you apply this. Anyways, taking another step back, is that this came from the Classroom Makers Project where they're using all that Make philosophy in the classroom, and how do you, how do you give students time to actually ask questions and inquire, and through their own space by Making great. Some of the things that people were running into, teachers were running into throughout the state were like, that's great how does this tie in to my standards. That's great. We've got a third grade reading bill coming down the pipeline, we don't have time for this. Okay, well maybe it fits, you know, on the day before Thanksgiving where all the kids are squirrely but you know, I don't really see this as something that I can continuously have in my classroom. And so looking at the third grade reading bill, the feedback from the teachers, and like how does this tie into my classroom, how do I get my administrators on board. Those two wonderful ladies, Kerry and Judy, they actually went and like, okay let's go look at which books that are, for the most part, based on real people, and that have design thinking, and making in their story. And so they picked out all of these books, many of them are by people of color, or marginalized voices, or like people who suffer from autism. And, like, here are these stories that they also have created like a pseudo, like, I don't know if they're called key cards or it's like a pseudo lesson plan Danelle help me out a little.Danelle Brostrom 28:35 Yeah there's a lesson plan, and there's sample questions that you can use. There's also simple activities that you can connect with the maker kits that are waiting your MC for you to be checked out. Or if you read the book yourself you might come up with three other ideas on how you can use making to connect these. They're phenomenal books and the work that those ladies have done is top notch.Drea Weiner 28:54 Yeah, and they're free. So we have those books at REMC for you to check out. We have the list of materials that require, that go along with the lesson plans. Okay, so here we have these free materials for you to check out and actually go back and apply it in your classroom, we also, like they're K-12. I sat down with a secondary English consultant over at TBA, and I was like hey, so these are picture books, and usually when I think about picture books it's for elementary school but they're telling me this is K-12, this is notLarry Burden 29:23 You're in a safe place here.Drea Weiner 29:23 This is not my area of expertise, and then like I shared with her the website. I shared with her, here's a lesson plan, one of the lesson plans tied to one of the books. She immediately tied three different standards for sixth grade into the lesson plan. And so, that's kind of one of the things to, where if you guys are confused about how do I fit this in, like what does this look like in my classroom, like this is meant to be K-12 and like there are people here within TCAPS, there's here, there's people within TBA who are just like, let me, let me help you out.Danelle Brostrom 29:56 Um, but go to the website it's bit.ly/pstlmaker. And you can see the resources that are availableLarry Burden 30:03 My tagline, I've got this. And of course I have to throw the A in there because I love STEAM. Yeah, STEAM is Lit. No? Yeah, no? Okay, moving on.Danelle Brostrom 30:12 Rolling the eyes just a little Larry.Larry Burden 30:14 Tutorials and updates, I just wanted to throw out, um, you shared with me yesterday. Two days ago, your DigCit for Parents.Danelle Brostrom 30:22 Oh yeah,Larry Burden 30:23 Which I thought was awesome,Danelle Brostrom 30:25 and Stephie, I didn't do it on my own.Larry Burden 30:28 Well you shared it on your own.Danelle Brostrom 30:29 I had to give credit.Larry Burden 30:30 But the presentation is great, there's so much in there, and I have a feeling we're going to be doing a lot with that in the upcoming weeks because I think it's really important to be communicating some of those resources with our parents. It's just, it's just too important. In closing, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @TCAPSLoopDanelle Brostrom 30:48 @brostromdaDrea Weiner 30:49 @dreaweinerLarry Burden 30:49 Subscribe to the podcast on Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher, Tune-in, Downcast, Overcast, the Google Play Store or wherever else you get your ear candy. Leave review, we love the feedback. Thanks for listening and inspiring.Danelle Brostrom 31:03 Yes. This is why I love you.Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Jerady Pearson from Trabuco Hills High School talks about the Hero's Journey, recreating the Odyssey with Ozobots, and Ready Player One.

Big shout out to the amazing Mrs. Sanchez for her bravery and innovation: she is willing to say #K2cantoo!

Brian Briggs and Jon Samuelson discuss Ozobots and how they are using them with students. There is also a good story on how Ozobots were low frustration for a special education classroom. There is always some cool finds on Crowdsource Corner...so give us a try!

FallCue 2017 and the Podfather Thursday 10/26 Need you to present right now! (Audio in the Classroom) Sketch 50 w/ Misty Kluesner & Cate Tolnai https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/CBKO/sketch50-lean-into-your-growth-mindset No room for you! Friday 10/27 Playtime in the STEAMpunk Playground https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/CBOx/cue-steampunk-playground Ozobots and Spheros Helping to set-up, more than willing... Digital Breakout Edu with Microsoft OneNote http://fall.cue.org/event/CBKl/breakout-with-onenote with Maria Turner & Melinda Richwine https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/CBKl/breakout-with-onenote Circuit Studies with Makey-Makeys with Rick Phelan https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/CBPI/circuit-studies-with-makey-makeys Better Together Learning Network https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/Cbf7/better-together-learning-playground https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15FKahYvTdu4_IjeZ6Ge9km10Gn1UB1Eno8saNrgCHfY/edit Aurdino: What is it what do I do with it? with David Platt, Heidi Baynes and special guest Roger Wagner of Hyperduino and Hyperstudio https://fallcue2017.sched.com/event/CBPf/arduino-what-is-it-what-do-i-do-with-it Saturday 10/28 Tried to get into Lesson Builder's Fair session with Jon Corippo and Lindsey Blass http://fall.cue.org/event/CBQH/lesson-builders-fair-a-bold-approach-to-lesson-design Absolutely packed, next time. Went to http://fall.cue.org/event/CBQ7/why-the-maker-movement-matters-in-education-exploring-the-new-steam-power with David Thornburg and his wife Norma -STEAM curriculum areas with 3D printers, Arduinos, micro:bits and other new tools for the K-12 classroom. http://fall.cue.org/event/CBQp/tubes-tape-and-imagination-starting-and-sustaining-a-future-ready-lab with Jennifer Harrison Principal, Tustin Unified School District and Traci DiLellio Teacher Grades 3/4, Tustin Unified School District http://fall.cue.org/event/CBRT/tech-out-that-open-house with Monica Bennett and Valerie Sun Finally, http://fall.cue.org/event/CBRx/makerspaces-nuts-and-bolts with Heidi Baynes TOSA-Instructional Technology, San Jacinto Unified School District, Gabrielle Henderson, Denise Leonard, Mark Synnott, Joseph Williams and again special guest Roger Wagner. Sunday 10/29 Podfather Leo Laporte https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy/episodes/1435?autostart=false check out about the hour and fifteen minute mark to see us in the studio, and a sticker of ours on Leo's Desk.

Featuring John Campbell (host and sound engineer), Maribel Dejesus, Matt Selby and Tom Norris.The podcast guests talk about library programs for the month of February: the Healthy Mind & Body series of healthful and mindful events; Black History Month events and celebrations including showings of the documentary film The Loving Story about Mildred and Richard Lovings’ legal battle for violating a state law that prohibited interracial marriage; Robot programs for ages 5-8 with Bee Bots and for ages 9-12 with Ozobots, and much MORE! See the print edition of Happenings for all the information.CLICK HERE to listen or right-click to save the podcast. Length: 17:15. PLAY If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element www.pbclibrary.org "Connect Communities, Inspire Thought, and Enrich Lives"