Augmented Reality in the Classroom

Stuff this week - Augmented Reality in the Classroom I was excited to read in the news this week that Canberra Grammar is the first school in the world to trial Augmented Reality in the classroom using Microsoft Hololens. Its great to see Australia leading the world in using edtech to enhance and redefine the learning process. In case you don't know the difference, augmented reality is where computer generated images are overlaid on the real world. This differs from virtual reality when the user is completely immersed in the computer generated world. Personally I believe that augmented reality will find a greater use in the classroom. This is not to say that virtual reality is a non-starter. Google has recently made their Google Expeditions application available to all. With hundreds of places to explore if you have a phone, a tablet and a cheap headmount for the phone (like the sub-$20 Google Cardboard) then you are good to go. My girls have been on many an expedition around the world and the solar system! The problem for schools is the cost of entry is high as they will likely need to purchase 20+ phones. This is not the same with augmented reality. Whilst Canberra Grammar is trialing Microsoft Hololens which starts at $4300 you can also get some great outcomes with tablet based apps. Schools typically already have iPads so they can jump straight in with some awesome free software. In my schools after-school STEM club we have used 4D elements which takes paper cubes with one of the periodic elements printed on each face and changes that into a transparent cube with the element inside when viewed through the app.The company also make another app called 4D anatomy. Another app aimed specifically at younger children is Chromville which has a series of science based experiences amongst others. Lastly, Aurasma is an app that allows you to make your own augmented reality experiences for the classroom. Augmented reality and virtual reality are not new ways to teach per se. What they do is provide an extremely engaging way of introducing lessons or topics. It allows for the redefinition of the way a lesson is delivered which is exactly what edtech should be doing (rather than just being another way to do the same thing). It also encourages communication (one of the 4 Cs) as the students are immersed in and then discuss this amazing blend of the real and computer generated worlds. What innovative things is your school doing in the classroom with edtech? If they aren't using augmented reality then show them how easy it is to get started!

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Stuff in the news Australian students being taught via hologram - Australian students are being taught via hologram in a revolutionary world first that is being trialled at a Canberra school.An article from news.com.au 3 May 2017 Making the Grade: State’s first STEAM-certified school energizes kids - In the USA many states have a STEM or STEAM certification programs for schools. This article discusses the positive benefits fpr all learning by taking this approach. An article from ajc.com 25 April 2017

Stuff to buy DFRobot's BOSON Kit: Powerful Building Blocks For LEGO STEM - This is being funded through Kickstarter. So if Littlebits are too expensive and you missed out on the Makeblock Neuron then this might be a good option.  iMicroscope R - Bring a Microscope with Your Phone - Another Kickstarter campaign. A nice handy microscopic tool - Solid, easy lens switching with dedicated APP, perfect for either education or professional applications.  *At this point in time I earn no money from any product I list and I am not affiliated with any other company.

Stuff in education STEM in the Primary Classroom: 4 Ways Educators are Acclimating to STEM Education - An article discussing how teachers can move to incorporate more STEM activities in their classroom. 8 January 2015

Stuff to do Australia Wide Australian STEM Video Game Challenge - For grades 5+.The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge will ask participants to develop games in response to a central theme or idea. Registration open 1 May and submissions close 25 August. Young ICT Explorers -  A non-profit competition, which has been created by SAP to encourage school students to create their best Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related projects. Registrations are OPEN. See the YouTube video here! CSIRO CREST Program - CREativity in Science and Technology. Engage your students with open-ended science investigations and technology projects through the CREST program. Edutech 2017 - EduTECH is the LARGEST education event in Asia-Pac and the Southern Hemisphere. 7-9 June 2017 in Sydney. National Science Week - Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals – from students, to scientists to chefs and musicians – get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation. 12 - 20 August 2017 - - - Bricks 4 Kidz® | Awesome Fun With LEGO® Bricks  Young Engineers Australia - Provides an engaging, hands-on learning platform using LEGO® and K’nex® assembly kits CoderDojo - A volunteer run programming club Code Club Australia - A network of coding clubs for kids aged 9 to 11.

Stuff to do in Brisbane STEAM EXPO – A Festival of Education for the Future. This event is being held on the 21st May from 9.30am – 5pm. Entry is FREE. 14 different workshops $25-$50 each. Bulimba State School. Robotronica 2017 - Robotronica is a groundbreaking one-day event showcasing the latest developments in robotics and interactive design. QUT's The Cube 20 August 2017  - - - Brisbane Library Service has purchased the very flash NAO Robot and is showing it off in various libraries. The Cube at QUT has a number of changing programs.  Brisbane Planetarium - Features entertaining and informative shows for adults and children STEMPUNKS STEM classes for kids in Brisbane STEAMPUNX - Not to be confused with the organisation above! Offers in-school and out of school workshop programs Flying Fox Studios - A studio offering programs in the arts, music and construction areas from babies to teenagers in Brisbane Building Block Studio | Learning Activity Centre in Brisbane For Budding Coders And Engineers Fun Chess Classes For Kids in Brisbane | Chess Mates Red Cat Science | Kids get to do what they can't at school It's Rocket Science School Incursions - Educational and fully interactive project based rocket science incursions for primary and secondary schools in a safe and empowering learning environment.

Girls in STEM

Stuff this week - Girls in STEM If you are the average family you will have two kids with one boy and one girl. If you are not average like me you might have three girls! Either way you likely have an interest in girls and STEM. Many STEM industries are typically male dominated yet despite this women have made and continue to make significant contributions to the total of human knowledge. Since the 1800s women like Ada Lovelace, Marie Curie and Grace Hopper have been experts in their field. The recent movie Hidden Figures showed the critical roles women have played even in the face of overt racism. In the most recent times we can watch Physics Girl on YouTube, Ayeh Bedir is the CEO of LittleBits and Carrie-Ann Philbin started off as Geek Girl on YouTube, wrote some books and is now the Director of Education for the Raspberry Pi Foundation. (She is also doing the awesome Crash Course Computer Science YouTube series) What is interesting is that research shows that in school a high proportion of girls are interested in STEM yet only a small number go onto a career in these fields. This is not an Australian specific problem. There are a large number of incentives and organisations dedicated to addressing this imbalance. In Australia we have Tech Girls are Superheroes and Girl Geek Academy and there are Australian chapters of globals movements such as Robogals. Globally there is Techgirlz and Girls Who Code and many more. So there is plenty of support for your girls if they are interested in STEM. There are practical things you can do at home. Let the girls use the drill and the hammer; make a billy cart with them. Encourage them to make things with electronics. Have fun doing various science experiments. Include them when Mum or Dad is fixing something. There are some great pages on the Internet showcasing women in STEM which would be great to look at together. In my experience in primary school it is the girls who are more likely to be interested and focused during a STEM activity. We just need to maintain that passion throughout their schooling.

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Stuff in the news Getting Girls into STEM: The Power of Blended (and All-Female) Instruction - An article from Edsurge 21 March 2017. Bucking the STEM trend: one student's journey to success -  Imogen Low, who wanted to become a doctor, shared the perception of many other students that ICT was for “geeks and gamers”. However, that all changed in 2014 when her teacher entered her into the Young ICT Explorers (YICTE) competition. An article from The Educator 18 April 2017. How Do You Get Middle School Girls Hooked on STEM? Ask TechGirlz - Philadelphia-based non-profit TechGirlz takes on the challenge of getting young girls to stick with STEM education. An article from PC Magazine 18 November 2016 Why is Russia so good at encouraging women into tech? - An article from BBC News 21 April 2017 Want to Break Stereotypes in STEM and Computing? Take a Look at Computer History - By sharing the history of computers with our students we can help break the stereotypes about gender and race in computing. An article from Edsurge 6 April 2017.

Stuff to buy New STEM Picture Books - STEM picture books introduce young children to science, technology, engineering, and math.  *At this point in time I earn no money from any product I list and I am not affiliated with any other company.

Stuff in education A STEM revolution across the curriculum - Amid urgent calls for an enrichment of STEM education in Australia, Terrie Jones and her team from Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney plotted a plan of action. An article from EducationHQ Australia 18 April 2017. The next generation of innovators is here—and they’re girls - An article about a technology competition sponsored by gemaker 9 January 2017.

Stuff to do Australia Wide Australian STEM Video Game Challenge - For grades 5+.The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge will ask participants to develop games in response to a central theme or idea. Registration open 1 May and submissions close 25 August. Young ICT Explorers -  A non-profit competition, which has been created by SAP to encourage school students to create their best Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related projects. Registrations are OPEN. See the YouTube video here! Edutech 2017 - EduTECH is the LARGEST education event in Asia-Pac and the Southern Hemisphere. 7-9 June 2017 in Sydney. - - - Bricks 4 Kidz® | Awesome Fun With LEGO® Bricks  Young Engineers Australia - Provides an engaging, hands-on learning platform using LEGO® and K’nex® assembly kits CoderDojo - A volunteer run programming club

Stuff to do in Brisbane Robotronica 2017 - Robotronica is a groundbreaking one-day event showcasing the latest developments in robotics and interactive design. QUT's The Cube 20 August 2017  - - - Brisbane Library Service has purchased the very flash NAO Robot and is showing it off in various libraries. The Cube at QUT has a number of changing programs.  Brisbane Planetarium - Features entertaining and informative shows for adults and children STEMPUNKS STEM classes for kids in Brisbane Flying Fox Studios - A studio offering programs in the arts, music and construction areas from babies to teenagers in Brisbane Building Block Studio | Learning Activity Centre in Brisbane For Budding Coders And Engineers Fun Chess Classes For Kids in Brisbane | Chess Mates Red Cat Science | Kids get to do what they can't at school It's Rocket Science School Incursions - Educational and fully interactive project based rocket science incursions for primary and secondary schools in a safe and empowering learning environment.