STEM have kindly published my blog containing some thoughts towards how old, and seemingly defunct, technology can yet be of value to teachers as a means of providing Physical Computing experiences.
Perhaps the question for teachers (& school IT support teams) could be: “what can this still do?” – rather than “what can this not do?”
Enjoying resource creation for my friends at Digit<all>
An activity for teachers will merge DT with Computing skills and Science – to build a particle measuring machine, linked to the PM2.5 Tree Sensor so that pupils can engage with the need for careful monitoring of these dangerous airborne particles.
The Space To Learn site in Northern Ireland captures video of wildlife passing by cameras that are spread throughout the woods. This camera, BadgerCam – is a good one for recording the soundscape too!
Delighted that Bridlewood Primary have joined our TPAT Trust. We will soon be exploring crumble kits together – to add physical computing fun to their upcoming school Design Technology project.
Literature Alive – from Digital Writes – is now well underway. Keith and I enjoyed our first visit to St Mary’s on Thursday – coinciding with World Book day. From next week we will begin working with a selection of pupils from St. Mary’s to develop the interactive game book. When asked, during our assembly, what would be different about our book to other books, the answer came back: “everything”!
All three of the ARC entries are gathering momentum. There is just one month left before the closing date of this year’s competition – which equates to four hours for us! Although only one entry (The Thermal Imaging project) could actually be described as a “robot”, it has been wonderful to see each team applying their coding, construction, and debugging skills in earnest.
The Digital Writes pupil-powered creation is well underway: bringing new meaning to the phrase “immersive”, our Literature Alive project is demonstrating what Unity software can enable children to accomplish, even when they may have decided previously that reading or writing was not for them.
Key Stage Three pupils at the School Of Solutions – a vitally important alternative provision unit which is part of The Park Academies Trust – are experiencing cutting edge ‘world-building’ software whilst contributing their creative ideas towards a digital book like no other.
It is a virtual game book – a successor to the ‘play-your-own-adventure’ stories that allow multiple routes through the text. Turn to certain pages and the book becomes an active 3D world, based on the content of the story that is unfolding and which they can then explore.
A total of four Swindon schools, two Primary and two Secondary – as well as the Museum of Computing – are taking part in this Arts Council funded project. Full details are here, with a great demonstration video (2 mins) to be found on YouTube here.
With the launch of Flickernet Tinker, there is now a new opportunity to become involved in the world of physical computing, even if you prefer making to teaching! Everyone is welcome to join in – for further details please see:
Thank you to Laura and the team for a great welcome to the BCC building in Chippenham. This is the UK’s first Business Cyber Centre. We were there to talk about physical computing, but it was also fascinating to be shown around this super high-tech space with ‘living walls’ and soundproof booths!
I am very much looking forward to supporting our wonderful LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) over the months and years ahead. Please see this link for more information about how physical computing can be supported in your school.
Thank you to Chris and the team for some fascinating CPD in Birmingham this week. It has brought home to me how much more effective it is to plan a project – especially one that involves many disciplines and subject areas – with the input of brilliant people!
www.flickernet.net/stem
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!
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
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
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 ?!
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!
The first parts have begun arriving for the new robot. This is an air quality sensor..
Our photo editing competition showcased pupil creativity, with an unexpected twist, in that the finalists opted to choose characters from the world of politics.
Who knew that there was so much humour to be found in the political machinations of 2020.?!
We have been experimenting with the creation of an online escape room!
The first puzzle is the hardest. Here is a clue to help to get you going:
line / word / letter
It is here, good luck!
Looking ahead to next academic year, it seems likely that we will need to delay resuming Code Club until Term 3, although there is a chance that we can find a way to meet safely in a larger classroom ahead of that.
Please keep an eye on www.flickernet.net/codeclub for updates.
In the meantime congratulations to Ryan P (Year 9) who has a wide range of Scratch 3 games featured on the site.
Our new Code Club will be starting at LPA next week!
It is invitation only this term (starting with KS3, helped by three KS5)
The links page is here
This is the big blue bunny rabbit that our children spotted whilst on holiday in Dorset. It was for sale for the quite reasonable price of 50p. After some debate over who would be making the purchase, he was presently in the bag / saved from landfill / one of the family.
The parting words of the stall holder rang in my ears, a clarion call to action: “you can connect your phone to it and stuff”
what stuff I wondered. What might it be capable of?
A google later and I had the app. The connection was made to the bunny but there was another connection to make, this time to a news story:
theregister.co.uk/2017/03/01/cloudpets_woes_worsen_mics_can_be_pwned/
oh dear. The batteries were swiftly removed.
Now in the depths of winter I have taken the final step to remedy matters for my son to enjoy his improbably treasured bunny:
and sew it ends!
Sometimes chopping a database up and sorting into into 1st, 2nd and 3rd normal form on the very floor works best!
Demonstrating automated systems to Year 9 with a Raspberry Pi 4, breadboard mounted PIR and resulting monkey on patrol.!
A full weekend of study at Bath University. Being presented with the opportunities and the potential of Raspberry Pi by those who know it best. My thanks to Dan, Mark, Laura and Alan for an amazing time.
