STEM Learning with Edtech

The demand on students to understand Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is greater than ever before. Current research demonstrates that through hyper-realistic visuals, interactive components and a user-friendly interface, both teachers and students experience learning gains when presented with complex science content. In recent years, a growing number of instructional technologies have emerged to address these learning needs of a growing and diverse K-12 population.

Educational technologies can provide learners with unique, educational experiences, not always possible in the traditional classroom. But what makes these technologies especially useful in the classroom?

Educational technology can allow students to:

• Explore and interact with STEM content and practices without the economical or ethical issues of costly consumable materials or preserved animal specimens.
• Have the opportunity to experience and recover from experimental (controlled) failure.
• View aspects of science that, until now, resided only with the minds of expert scientists and engineers.

It’s an exciting time for K-12 educators and students. STEM learning is more accessible, more interactive, and more immersive than ever before through a growing body of educational technology. To live in the digital age means to learn in the digital age.

Dr. Vayla Lee, Superintendent of Schools - Must Read zSpace Comments

" When you take the glasses off you are walking away with a new understanding, like never before. zSpace makes learning come alive."

Valya Lee

Superintendent 

Liberty County School District

This comment is just part of what Dr. Lee has to say about how zSpace is engaging her students in learning.  

To hear the entire 2:52 minute interview with Dr. Lee, select the link below.

http://zspace.com/videos/liberty-county

Need more proof that zSpace is providing a learning experience like no other?  

Let's hear from Jeffrey Baier, Superintendent of Los Altos School District talk about how zSpace provides a meaningful and relevant experience. 

To hear the entire 2:03 minute interview with Mr. Jeffrey Baier, select the link below.

 http://zspace.com/videos/lasd-partnership-stem-pilot

How about another testimonial from a professional educator, like you, talking about the zSpace experience? 

Listen to what Dr. Peter Licata, Director Choice and Career Options, Palm Beach Community Schools has to say. 

He is going to rave about zSpace. . 

To hear the entire 2:23 minute interview with Dr. Peter Licata, select the link below.

http://zspace.com/videos/palm-beach-community-schools-use-zspace

If you watch at least one of these interviews, you will hear how virtual reality with zSpace in the classroom has positively impacted the learning experience at these schools.  

Let us bring a zSpace demonstration to your school.

It's very easy to set up.

1) Send us an email. 

2) Let us know a good time and date to call you.  (provide a direct phone number) 

3)We will call you.

VR vs AR vs zSpace - Who will win the classroom?

If it is your responsibility to figure out what technology offers 

the most engaging learning experience, 

to the broadest audience, 

at the most cost effective price, 

then this email is written for you. 

VR was the big topic at CES 2017.

VR is a hotter topic than when smart boards or iPads were introduced.  

Kids love the Samsung and Google Goggle experience.

Sony is in the game. 

It is transporting kids to new places and providing new experiences. 

VR is engaging, but does the new technology sit well in a classroom? 

Is there a learning experience?  

It's a burning question for me.  

Over the holiday, I was able to be the tech geek that I am 

and check out the local Best Buy for cool gadgets. 

It was my chance to see the latest and greatest in VR.

VR Goggles

Virtual Reality (VR) goggles are totally immersive and getting more so with every iteration. 

The visuals and audio are awesome. 

Sony and Oculus are incorporating the devices for the hands.  

It is impressive technology. 

It is really cool for a single player.  

Looking at it with an educators eye, 

I could not imagine how you would manage a classroom of kids

with eyes and ears covered.  

  
There doesn't appear to be a strong focus by any of the headset VR manufacturers mentioned to move from the gaming world to K12 education. 

VR glasses and Google goggles are cool for single application, but out for the classroom.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality (AR) is amazing. I think the best example of it is still Pokemon GO. The characters overlaid in the real world gets my imagination going about where this tech will go. 

Google has created an AR experience 

for a few museums around the country. 

I'm sure we will see more applications from them in 2017. 

I'm just not sure how well AR can ever work in the classroom 

with the student being tied to a desk. 

For AR to be awesome, 

the students need to move around in different environments. 

Since the Reality part never changes, 

it may not be all that exciting

for student engagement and learning. 

  
There is no thriving education piece that I could find

and you need to move out of the classroom to be engaged. 

For that reason, AR is out.

Desktop Virtual Reality

zSpace is real world virtual reality as called by the manufacturer.  

I think that description not only sells the product short, 

but really misses the boat in trying to describe the experience. 

To me, zSpace is a holographic experience. 

There are hundreds of objects floating in the air, 

in front of the computer, 

that can be manipulated. 

Yes, it is virtual reality.  

But, until you sit in front of a zSpace desktop computer

and see for yourself, 

I think it is best described as a computer that let's you 

interact with a hologram.  

It is mind blowing the first time you see it. 

It is inspiring the first time you see kids around a zSpace workstation.  

The really cool part about the experience is that is can be viewed by multiple people. 

There are glasses to be worn, but the kids are not isolated like VR glasses.  

Multiple kids can wear glasses and view the experience at the same time.  

Committed to Education
 

zSpace is also completely committed to creating an educational experience. 

There are hundreds of holographic models that can serve a science teacher, 

a history teacher, 

an arts teacher, 

a geography teacher, 

and an ELA teacher. 

It's safe to say that everyone in a school can use zSpace. 

Any subject area can be enhanced with the zSpace product. 

Check it out here: http://edu.zspace.com/activities/ . 

For that reason, zSpace is the WINNER.

Planning 2017/18

If you are working on your budgets for next year, 

trying to figure out the best bang for a school buck, 

and want a product that will engage all the students

across multiple curriculums, 

check out zSpace. 

We can bring a demo unit out, 

so that you can see first hand how well it engages students 

and how easily it will integrate into your curriculum. 

There is even a zSpace tour bus with a dozen stations.

Hit Reply to Arrange a Demonstration

Let me know a good time to talk.  Share a good phone number to contact you. We will get back to you.

Fun Steam Projects That Teach Real-World Skills in Two Days or Less

The life of an educator is a busy one. Finding the time to create a new 3D printing lesson from scratch can be hard when you’re in a rush. Whether you’re new to classroom 3D printing, or just strapped for time, you can achieve more with with Quick Projects from Thingiverse Education! From designing art sculptures to creating decoder rings, there’s a variety of free lessons that are fun, fast, and easy to complete. Each project includes a full lesson plan that’s approved for a variety of state learning standards. To help you get started, we’ve collected five Thingiverse lesson plans that your classroom can finish in two days or less.

Each lesson plan includes step-by-step instructions for a 3D printing project that’s approved for certain learning standards. Many projects include a grading rubric, reflection questions, requirements sheets, and more.

1. Lead a Group of Speedy Architects

Challenge your students to design their own buildings in the Speedy Architect Project! In this lesson, grades 3 through 8 will create buildings that meet critical design requirements. Students will connect 3D printed connectors to drinking straws to create final structures. They’ll team up to build the tallest building they can with a limited amount of materials and time. This way, students can become familiar with being creative under professional design constraints.

All it takes is 1 or 2 class periods for students to plan their designs, create models on TinkerCAD, and 3D print their final structures. Meeting Next Generation Science Standards, this lesson is a fun preview of more advanced science, engineering, and technology concepts.

2. Recreate a Famous Logic Riddle

In this activity, your students will help a farmer complete a puzzling mission. In A Fox, a Goose, and a Bag of Beans Logic Riddle, students will use deductive reasoning to figure out how a farmer could carry his items safely across a river. Grades 5 through 8 will 3D print models of the farmer, the fox, the goose, and the bag of beans to help them act out possible scenarios and solutions.

In about 25 minutes, you can challenge your students to think deductively, which will help them tackle proofs in the future. Thingiverse designer ereiser suggests introducing this project on the first day of school to reintroduce students to mathematical thinking.

3. Create Unique 3D Sculptures from 2D Sketches

Transform your students’ sketches into complex art sculptures with the Art Connector Set SVG Conversion Project. Students will begin by drawing shapes within the circles provided. Then, they’ll photograph their drawings to upload them to their computers as .jpeg images. Once they’re uploaded, they’ll convert their images into SVG files. From there, they can import their SVG files into Tinkercad, where they’ll design and finalize their 3D print files. After 3D printing their circles, they’ll connect each print to form a unique art piece!

To achieve the same results in fewer steps, teachers can also use the ShapeMaker feature on the MakerBot PrintShop iPad App. All students would have to do is take a photo of their drawings or upload their files on the iPad, and then ShapeMaker converts them into CAD files that you can customize, resize, and print.

This project, optimized for grades 2 through 6, can be completed in 2-3 class periods. This lesson is a good introduction to advanced STEAM thinking. It meets National Core Art Standards for elaborating on artistic ideas and devising multiple approaches to a design problem. Teaching students how to visualize and convert 2D sketches into 3D objects primes them for the work they’ll encounter in design, digital manufacturing, and engineering jobs in the future.

4. Explore Cryptography with Decoder Rings!

Introduce young mathematicians to cryptography and ciphers with the lesson Cryptography: Sending Secret Messages. Grades 3 through 8 will learn how to use ciphers to encode and decode messages on a 3D printed decoder ring. Students will discover why the Vigenere cipher works better than the Caesar cipher, as they send and decode secret classroom messages! This one-day activity meets Common Core State Standards for solving math problems and using tools strategically.

5. Breathe New Life into Book Reports!

Add some exciting design elements to your Language Arts lesson with Book Report Keychains! In this activity, students are asked to design and print three keychains – one for three different characters from a recently read book. Each keychain should possess one or more elements of the character’s personality, motivations, challenges, or important relationships in the story.

This project is an interesting, engaging way for grades 4 and 5 to express their reading comprehension. It meets Common Core State Standards for English and Language Arts. In 3 to 5 class sessions, students will enhance their retention, build key 3D design skills, and enjoy 3D printed keepsakes that are unique, eye-catching, and fun!

For more fast, easy 3D printing lessons, explore Quick Projects found in Thingiverse Education!

Repost from Makerbot