On Friday the 13th, I had the opportunity to attend Techday the 13th. This amazing professional development day was put on by the Instructional Technology Team. I use to work with the team and it was so great to see my former colleagues and reconnect with them. But what was really cool, was the turnout of teachers. These people showed up to further their learning on a “day off”. Statewide, it was a in-service day but it’s not mandatory to attend any training. Yet on a day when teachers could have been home grading papers and eating bon-bons, 150+ showed up to the Harry Potter themed tech training day.
I was invited to help out Wayne Johnston with the Makerspace workshop. Wayne had four stations set up in the classroom: working with Makey Makeys, exploring Hummingbird kits, coding Spheros and Ollies and design challenges in which one had to make their own crown out of fancy straws and pipe cleaners. What was so great about this workshop, was it it was a wonderful mix of teacher-librarians (TLs) and classroom teachers who came to experience hands-on learning. I got to experience the excitement the teachers had when they were given the opportunity to design and create and collaborate. It is this same excitement that I want and have to bring to Ogden’s Makerspace.
Teachers build a playdough piano with Makey Makeys.
A VPS teacher codes a hummingbird.
One station in the workshop that I was excited about was the Hummingbird build. The TLs and teachers were tasked with attaching a fall-themed die cutout to a servo. What I love about the hummingbird kits was that it gives you the opportunity to attach materials to electronic components, then use a program to code your project and bring it to life!
Check out the example!
I’d say that everyone in the room that day had drank (and enjoyed) the Makerade. It’s so refreshing to know that our district sees the importance of this for our students. I know that I’m going to have a great year working along side teachers and students to build agency and authenticity around making!