The Space To Learn page is gradually taking shape. Over the next few months I will share the ways in which I aim to develop outdoor educational technology from our foothold in the Mourne Mountains. Expect live data streams; real world applications of physical technology; and an exploration into new ways in which STEM subjects, creative writing and historical investigations can benefit from a natural environment that is fully plugged in.
The huge potential of Unity as a teaching resource is keeping Keith and I hard at work. We have exciting plans to bring STEM subjects to life using this great engine – the laws of physics can be explored in a virtual world!
Christmas fun at ARC when we set our Kitronik Move Motor robots to race each other along a winding track around the classroom! Some pupils kept it simple – follow the line – others included their ultrasonics and yet others played Christmas carols en route! With a large chocolate first prize and spot prizes for best dressed robot – there was every incentive to fine tune the active code!
Thank you to Stuart and the team at BCS for a most interesting day exploring the new BCS Level 1 qualification at BCS HQ. The twelve of us present were taken through the materials and provided with ample time to explore what delivery of this new certification will look like.
As LPA are one of the first schools to offer this (through the STEM Enthuse Partnership) I will be sharing here what the experience of being a certified testing centre is like – and how well our pupils do in tackling the qualification.
The Raspberry Pi-up-a-tree is functioning well. Data stream is here: www.flickernet.net/data with further information on the wider STEM based outdoor learning project here: www.flickernet.net/s2l
Huge thanks to Pete for an immense array of Micro:Bit ideas today. Thanks also to Jenny for hosting us – the Enthuse Partnership gained great guidance today with seasoned educationalists aplenty to inspire us throughout the afternoon.
..because the tweeting might sound better here: @flickernet@techhub.social
I am so excited to be joining Keith and the team at Digital Writes. Over the year ahead I will be helping with their wonderful mission to encourage reading and writing through the creation of interactive game books: imagined, planned and built by pupils from multiple schools and community groups.
This will be the first time that Flickernet has teamed up with a different organisation in this way:
This is the first of two environment monitors under preparation to provide real-time data and imagery from two distinct environments: rural and urban.
It will stream information about the air quality including pollutant gases and particulates as well as light / sound and weather data.
codename: johnket
Thank you to Grace and the judging panel for PA Consulting, part of Cambridge Network, who sent us an enormous envelope – inside which was a small, but perfectly formed Pico! The judges commented on our project:
“Your objectives, although challenging, show the impact you wish to have. I also like that you see this as an interactive approach and not something that is solved in one go.I hope you keep the development and team spirit going”
Robert from ARM has inspired me with his confidence in the Micro:Bit as a means to create sensors that will support STEM learning. Robert’s experience in seeing physical computing integrated into schemes of work encourages me to explore this avenue.
https://www.arm.com/resources/education/schools
Our thanks to Marcus and the team at Newbury Code Ninjas who has kindly offered to share the CAS Raspberry Pi AstroPi set with us. We look forward to comparing notes on what these Raspberry Pi units end up being part of!
Delighted and excited to be offering App-building for Key Stage 3 pupils with a new after-school club.
goIT is an internationally recognised initiative to inspire young people to learn to develop their own solutions in the context of the UN Global Goals. We will be using MIT AppCreator as well as following the goIT design development principles.
ARC have created a gas-detecting patrol robot for the PA Competition – it really needs a name now.. Gasbot 3000 ?!
This website was so useful in helping Year 7 to make sense of what innovations happened, when!
the ARC demo robot has three functioning brains, two (Pi) on WiFi and one on Bluetooth but has not yet rumbled out of the door.. Sensor readings are rather erratic and the head-mounted servo obeys no known code. On the plus side Motors coping with the combined weight and Meccano providing a strong exoskeleton. Also the camera works!
More details here:
The Advanced Robotics Club began today: so many competitions to choose from, and a talented team of enthusiastic pupils who knew exactly how to assemble the new kit!
Aided by a batch of pre-loved Meccano, the ARC demonstration robot has got a form, of sorts!
