TECHNOLOGY IS AWESOME!

Our school did a FUN RUN fundraiser in October of last year to raise money for technology for the building. The ultimate goal was to raise enough money to purchase 2-3 iPads for each classroom. With 21 classrooms in the building, it was a lofty goal. But, with the help of the parents, community, staff, and students....we were able to raise over $25k! My classroom is already a 1:1 iPad room that was achieved through training and an application process. So my question was...what will my students get? We were able to get a chunk of money to spend on technology and resources in the classroom. I emailed my lovely tech trio [@jeffreybernadt, @annfeldmann1, and @mrsjcarlson on Twitter] and they gave me some GREAT ideas to use our new funds on! I looked at and purchased: LittleBits, Sphero, and Ollie with accessories.

LittleBits:
The first gadget purchased was a Gizmos and Gadgets kit from LittleBits. If you have not checked this out you definitely should. The students have really enjoyed following the step by step modules to create different things using snap together circuits. They have also been able to add their own ideas and run with them given the tools. With a coupon code, I was able to also get a storage tub and a motion sensor to use with the different modules. Students are able to download and use the LittleBits app [I have a log in and password that I have set up that I put in for them]. On the app they are able to see other people's ideas and also add their own if they have something new for others to try!

Sphero:

This is an app enabled robot that I wanted to use hand in hand with CODING. My class participated in the Hour of Code and many have tried writing their own code and using HopScotch app and Scratch app, etc. This gives students a way to see coding live in person! They absolutely love it. If you have never heard of Sphero, I would start by watching THIS video. The options with Sphero are ENDLESS! He also came with some small ramps and I was able to purchase a turbo cover to keep it protected without giving up speed. This amazing robot even works in water [I am still nervous about letting the kids try this, though I don't know why!] We just received Sphero a week or two ago and the kids are just getting the hang of driving it and now are looking into different ways to code with it. Some ideas: tape a "racing course" along the floor and code it to go through; tape a specific pattern/shape on the floor and have it coded to follow that shape; or even setting up an obstacle with ramps and different things to go around and then code it to make it through the entire obstacle course.

Ollie:

This guy does mostly everything that Sphero does [except go through water, although it is "water resistant"]. We were able to get [through a crazy set of events] TWO Ollie's-one is the dark side Ollie and one is the regular Ollie with spine ramps. The students have leaned more to this one because it is a bit easier to drive. Coding and all the other ideas mentioned above still apply. If you have not seen Ollie, watch THIS video.

 regular Ollie with Spine Ramps

"Darkside Ollie"

These awesome additions to our classroom are exciting in themselves-but it really pushed a lot of my kids to try something different. We use them with GENIUS HOUR [innovation time] each and every Monday. Students can try these out and dive into the coding or circuit explorations just for a day or they can make a whole new Genius Hour project with them. I haven't opened them up for an "open explore time" or something to do when they are finished with all of their work. I am curious if others of you out there have these. Do you let students use them during "free time/work time"??? Do you only allow them to be used at certain times on certain days? I would love to hear the way other classes are implementing them. Students CANNOT wait for Genius Hour....because of these new additions and all the other AMAZING things they are creating and learning about. And why are they so excited? Because THEY get to choose. THEY problem solve. THEY create ideas and solutions. THEY choose their paths. Students will always be passionate about things THEY create and get to choose to do. I would love to hear feedback of how Genius Hour is going in YOUR classroom OR if you have one of these awesome gadgets in your class-how do you implement?