Teach42

Final keynote is Sowing hte Seeds for a more Creative Society by Mitchel Resnick. Started off by asking us to identify which of the three don’t belong: Television, Computers, Paintbrushes. Most people might say paintbrushes, but he’s saying that it should be televisions. People need to be using computers to express themselves more, to be creative and innovative in their use of them.

Some of the best learning experiences occur when education is about more than just information delivery.

In his mind, computers are not just about information, but they’re really about a new medium to let us express ourselves and communicate with one another.

His research book (group) is called Lifetime Kindergarten Group. He’s talking right now about the history of kindergarten, how it came about and how it was originally designed by Froebel. The new technology tools of today are able to take the ideas behind kindergarten learning and apply them to more advanced learning and concepts. The original materials and manipulatives in Kindergarten were called Froebel’s gifts. What would be 21st century Froebel’s gifts?

According to Alan, Mitchel was one of the people who created Lego Mindstorms, you know the legos with motors, processors, and the ability to program them via computer. We used to use those in school, the kids loved working with them. I’ve seen some really innovative projects. He showed a hilarous video of a few robots battling over ping pong balls, a predecessor to Mindstorms.

Side note: I am so tired today that I’m having trouble getting decent notes taken. It’s not that I’m not paying attention, but I’m getting wrapped up in what he’s saying and showing us, to a point that I keep forgetting to write things down! Oy vey. That’s what happens you when you stay up late drinking and talking about tigers, haggis, soccer, football and why North Carolina is attempting to recruit every good teacher at the conference.

This stuff really is interesting, but very visual. He’s got a slide up right now showing a six year old, the hat he created that spins a propeller when a person puts it on and the page he wrote to describe what it is and how it works. Six years old. That’s amazing.

Wow, he has a ‘birthday cake’ with some sensors in it and light up candles on it. When you blow on it, the lights go out and it plays happy birthday. He also has a cat that has a “cricket” inside (programable processor) that is connected to a light sensor. When you pet the cat, a shadow goes over the light sensor and the cat meows.

He’s really emphasizing how kids are much more creative and motivated when they are working on projects that really mean something to them. For example, a student created a device for measuring how fasat she roller bladed. Not how far, but how fast. It wasn’t too hard to figure out relative speed in RPM’s but she really wanted MPH for her own personal reasons and figured it all out.

It’s not just about the technology, it’s about being creative and trying to find ways to make a difference in the world.

Four guiding principals
1. Learning through designing
2. Following your intersts
3. Encouraging emergent community
4. Respect and trust

They’re going to be webcasting this session at some point. Quite simply, if you find any of this interesting you have to watch it. He’s showing a program called scratch that is a descendant of Logo and the Mindstorm programing language, but also has some photoshop elements to it. It’s called Scratch, and believe me when I say, it’s really wild. Doesn’t look like it’s publicly available yet, but I want it. Simple, intuitive, powerful, interactive, collaborative, and creative. Very very cool stuff.

Bringing all around, this sort of program is one more way turn a computer into a paintbrush.

Let me say this one more time. You have to see this webcast. I’ll post a link once I have it.

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