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Innovation Hub: Building Student Engagement & Critical Thinking

with STEAM Tools

Mechelle Morgan

Murray Middle School

STEAM Teacher

@mechelle428

http://bit.ly/MMSHub

Amanda

Curlin

Murray Middle School

Library Media Specialist

@acurlinlibrary

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Where we were….

  • No Library Media Specialist in ????? years.
  • Space not utilized.
  • Faculty meetings held in library once per month.
  • Teachers would bring students to library long enough to check out books.

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Bloxels

Purpose:

Students build interactive video games including characters, scenes, and objects. Students can use the app or build the items on a gridded board and “scan” their creation into the app.

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Spheros

Purpose:

Students practice coding by drawing, using drag & drop blocks or writing script to control the robots! Each robot has different features and can be used in a variety of lessons and activities!

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Sphero Specdrums

Purpose:

Specdrums are little rings with color sensors that when connected to one of the two Specdrum apps allow students to “play color”. In the mix app students can create beats and “DJ” with color. In the music app, students can play a huge variety of instruments, notes, and compose complete songs.

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Sphero Specdrums

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Makey Makey

Purpose:

Design your own controller with everyday materials like playdough or graphite pencils. Learn about conductive materials and control a variety of games/apps as well as student created games!

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Breakout EDU

Purpose:

A physical (or digital!) game kit and platform where students work together to solve various puzzles to open a locked box. The puzzles and activities can be related to any content area!

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Little Bits

Purpose:

With lots of little “bits” these magnetic blocks, students snap the blocks together to create all kinds of inventions and creations! Blocks snapped together create a circuit and can have various inputs and outputs.

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Google Expeditions

Purpose:

Take a field trip anywhere in the world with the power of Google! The teacher “leads” an expedition and student devices/goggles change to see what the teacher has chosen. The Expeditions app also comes loaded with great questions and information about each expedition. NEW: Create and add your own Expeditions with Tour Creator!

http://bit.ly/mmshub

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Makerbot 3D Printer

Purpose:

Print items that students have designed and created! Also great to design and print items to be used in your classroom as resources for students!

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Where we are now….

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How We Organize...

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Funding

  • Write grants!!
    • Walmart Community Grant
    • Lowe's Toolbox for Education
    • Toyota of Kentucky
  • Title 4 Part A Funding
    • Well-Rounded Education
    • Safe and Healthy Students
    • Use of Technology
  • Community Partners/Donations