Prototype - A Way to Boost Team Projects

For many projects in our Computer Science class, teams are tasked with designing and developing a prototype of their idea. This, in many cases, takes the project to a new level - they must imagine or brainstorm what their product will actually look like, what it will do, and how it could potentially be used by the public. Critical thinking and problem-solving play a big part in our prototyping.

Here's where we begin:

Prototype (noun) - defined as a first, typical, or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied.

The team's prototype can be one of these forms: 

• Physical - your team can design and create a shell or a model. It can be made of any material. It does not have to 'work' exactly, but should be close to your overall plan.
• Drawn - similarly to a patent of a machine, or an architect's rendering - draw out what your product should look like, detailing every angle and every important aspect. Then label parts of the product.
• Coded - this is where your team can show the design and begin to demonstrate how it will work. Your team can use any platform to create this programmed representation of the product.
• Audio - this will allow your team to demonstrate your product using sounds. Your team can use any platform to create the sounds that best represent the product.
• Other - your team may have other ideas that can used to demonstrate the product ideas. Choose wisely. Make sure it will give the viewing audience a good look at the product and what the product will be able to do.

In all cases, teams should concentrate on the details and be very specific.

Thinking about Assistive Technology

 

In Computer Science, we talk a lot about how we use our technology to solve many of life's problems. One problem we came up with was making technology accessible to everyone. This led to a conversation about Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology is a term for adaptive and rehabilitative devices designed to help people with disabilities who often might have difficulty performing tasks in their daily lives, even with assistance. 7th-grade teams were given the task of brainstorming and developing a prototype of a tool that could assist someone with disabilities. This task required research, data gathering, and then brainstorming some ideas.

Teams then took their ideas to a Paint or Paint 3D program to begin developing. What is exciting is listening to them develop their ideas, with phrasing like "what if we added ____",  and then piecing together a mock-up of their ideas to try it out for themself. This was a testament to true problem-solving and critical thinking. Teams presented their ideas and prototypes to the class. Easily, some of their imaginative ideas could be further developed and used. 

This....is a great idea for

Read & Write Extension in Chrome

This support tool was recently shared with me: add the Read & Write Extension in Chrome to allow students a reading immersive experience on any website. It's great for reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words & more. Here's how to add it:

Trust me on this one.....ROBOTICS works!

Yesterday was a surreal day for me.

This is a picture of me in my car, fully loaded with robotic equipment, heading to my first of the season VEX IQ Robotics Middle School Qualifier…. just like I’ve done for the last eight seasons.

Along with my 8 teams, there were 14 other teams who, by coincidence or not, had a teammate that had either been on a past team of mine or had attended one of the camps I held at school. All the members of one 'homegrown' team had teammates from several years of past teams – and – their coach was from one of the first teams I coached.

I kept thinking, “This is like seeing my life flash before my very eyes”. I hugged at least 15 other team’s kids yesterday – and – their parents.

Every one of them did so well, including my 8 new teams. I could not be happier or prouder.

Folks – if you have kids, especially ones that are not very good at sports or music, you must get them into robotics! It will change their life!

Trust me on this one...

My Name is Elana

The first day of 6th grade (circa 1972), the teacher called roll. When she got to my name, she pronounced it "ah-lawn-ah". I respectfully corrected her as my parents taught to do by saying "it's 'ee-lay-na'”. To wit, she said "Yes, but it looks like it should be 'ah-lawn-ah'". And around and around we went until she loudly grunted and said "Ok Miss Fremont" - a proud distinction, had it not been said with her sarcastic tone. So, for the rest of the school year, in a class of Marks, Toms, Andreas & even Sylvias, I was the only one called by my surname with a sarcastic tone. 

I didn't much care for that woman. Not just because of my name, but because of all the other slights to the rules of inter-personal relationships. And to this day, after all these years, it's still a clear memory of how she made me feel. I think we should all feel valued in our learning space, our work space & all spaces in between. 

A friend shared this article from 2016 and I think it still speaks volumes about this very topic: "A Teacher Mispronouncing A Student's Name Can Have A Lasting Impact" - If we are to build relationships with the students in our classrooms, it should begin by properly pronouncing their name.

And, for the record, I still believe that that teacher was the one that lost out. My Science Teacher, Mrs. Chalke, got the distinction for being my favorite teacher that year and beyond!

Computer Science -- why? Or, maybe, why not.

• Computer Science is so much more than learning to code. It's about blending computers and other brands of technology with computational and critical thinking. In Computer Science, we're teaching students to think about how to solve problems.

  This is done by decomposing a problem - or, breaking it down into small chunks. Recognizing patterns, similarities or trends. Adding in an amount of abstraction, where we weed out the information we need versus the unnecessary 'stuff' that we don't need. Then, putting it all together to determine the steps or rules - the algorithm.

  Just about every industry on the planet requires applicants to have some form of background in Computer Science.

  For example:

  In Agriculture - farmers look to Computer Science to make their farms more efficient with watering systems, robotic equipment that will harvest fruits and vegetables that take them from plant to table in short periods of time.

  In the shipping industry, Computer Science is seen in programmed robots that sort, scan, package, label and eventually move to ship out the item in record speeds. Think about just how fast it takes to order, then receive the purchased item. Some arrive the same day or overnight. Rarely does it take longer than that. 

  In Architecture, civil engineers are needed to construct computer programs to design bridges, buildings or other infrastructures.

  In businesses from every industry, Computer Science is used in the form of developing tools, designing webpages and software to make organizations more efficient and, in most cases, more profitable.

  In Medicine, Computer Science is used to design medical devices and surgical instruments, and, to even perform surgical procedures with pin-point accuracy that no human can replicate. 

  Biologists use drones and software to track and analyze the migration of animals, food and water supplies and the preservation of rainforests.

  This is all Computer Science. In education, it is intertwined into each and every one of our content areas. We are molding students to fill these jobs. 

  And....Computer Science is an integral part of that process. 

  So, why the study of Computer Science in our classrooms? It might be best to ask - why not.

The Power of Peer Review

Peer Review, point blank, just works. It’s a double check of things as simple as grammar, sentence structure, feedback on steps, and…you, name-its. In my middle school Computer Science class, we also have peers suggest ways to improve products, improved codes, and, in the end, suggest ways to make ‘it’ better.

I introduce the old concepts of T.A.G., but with a twist. TAG is simply: 

T - Tell your peer what you like. What has your peer done well. This is a time to bring out everything that is looking great in the project. Shower your peer with positive vibes here. 

A - Ask questions. When you look at your peer’s project, what are you curious about? What is tricky or unclear? Ask the question. Get more clarity or ask questions that may make your peer think of other aspects they may not have thought of. And….

G - Give suggestions. What can you suggest that would make the project better, more clear, or add that extra special elements to make the project pop? Brainstorm with your peer.

A cheery reminder before Tag-time to all students is to be kind, be constructive, be a helper. I typically have students submit the feedback they gave and the feedback they got as part of all project deliverables in class. 

It just works!