Printing Doesn't Have To Leave A Paper Trail

3-D Printing isn't exactly "new" technology, but it is something new that has been making its way into schools. I was recently reminded of this while surfing through a blog and coming across the article Jaw Dropping Classroom 3D Printer Creations. This caught my eye because the school I previously taught at had been working to master the art of 3-D printing. My plan was to integrate 3-D printing into the pre-engineering class that I taught, allowing students to create a solution to a problem and actually be able to generate a prototype. This would also integrate design challenges and the use of 3-D modeling software. After coming across this article, I wondered how 3-D printing could be used in other classrooms. Some great examples were allowing biology students to print organs in order to get a more realistic view of their structure, or allowing foods students to design their own cookie cutters! I now see this as an amazing tool to engage students, allowing the ideas that started out in their minds, to translate into reality.



 The possibilities are endless, and after doing research I found myself opening up to the investment in 3D printing technologies for all students. Check out some of my links and comment your ideas about 3-D printing integration for your classroom!

• 3-D Printing Revolutionizing the Classroom
• Year 1 With A 3-D Printer: 17 Tips
• How and Why To Get Started With 3-D Printing In The Classroom

5 Pedagogical Needs That Can Be Improved Through Use of Social Media: Gamification

Through several readings including the book assigned for my Digital and Social Media course titled, Social Media for Educators: Strategies and Best Practices, I have come to the conclusion that social media does have the capability to change the traditional classroom in many ways. The book references five pedagogical needs that we need to examine when considering incorporating social media into our classrooms. This list can be found in chapter 2, p. 30 of Joosten's book:

1. Increasing communication and contact
2. Engaging students through rich, current media
3. Gathering and providing feedback
4. Creating cooperative and collaborative learning opportunities
5. Providing experiential learning opportunities

I would like to explore the idea of experiential learning opportunities, the fifth of Joosten's pedagogical list. Through other readings, I found that some teachers are using what they dub "gamification" techniques in the classroom. "The theory is that by changing at least some of the curriculum to adopt familiar social media activities like checking in or collecting incremental rewards for completing various tasks, that the education system will become more relevant to students more comfortable with the “gamification” culture." (Power) This idea really peaked my interest, because I use to be a "gamer" when I was in high school, and even through college. I built rapport with many students by discussing the latest gaming technologies that were coming out, or the best strategies during game play. It is becoming harder and harder to motivate students to participate in class, but if we could find a way to create a gaming sequence out of a class, it could really make breakthroughs with these students and help them to achieve a higher academic standing and remain more engaged in the classroom. I even found an article that suggested doing a "twitter treasure hunt", which seemed like a great idea to me as I just created a twitter and am already swimming in new information and resources. Teaching students to use social media as more than just a communication tool with friends, showing them that it can also be a great way to find new information about their interests. Even something as simple as having students comment on blogs, or youtube videos as an assignment. Leaving comments has become second nature, as Facebook has radically changed the way we communicate, and to create assignments that utilize this nature will keep students more engaged. 

 Power, D. (2012, January 10). How Social Media Is Changing Education | Sprout Social. Retrieved September 28, 2015. 

Joosten, T. (2012). Social Media for Educators: Strategies and Best Practices. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Here are some links that further explore Social Media in Education and the bold idea of "gamificiation":

• 4 Ways To Bring Gamification of Education to Your Classroom
• Gamification: The Right or Wrong Way to Motivate Students
• Social Media and Gamification Take Center Stage in Learning
• Use of Student Data: Social Media and Gamification in Education
• Epic Fail or Win?

Do Schools Kill Creativity? | Sir Ken Robinson | TED Talks

Ken Robinson takes a humorous approach in explaining the downfalls of our education system toward the creative student. He gives examples that show how we define intelligence, and where our flaw in this definition lies. Bold statements are made such as, "We need to radically rethink our idea of intelligence", and that "Education goes deep with people, like religion or money." He speaks on the capacity of children to be innovative, and to take chances.Ken believes that, "creativity in education is as important as literacy",  take a few minutes if you have the time and find out why. Our education system teaches students that it is wrong to make mistakes, and because of this, we are killing the creativity before it has a chance to expand the minds of those who will one day lead our society. This reminded me of a quote that I have seen often on the internet, and that I try to remember when I am working with students that can't seem to grasp a concept.   There are many factors that need to be considered when we think upon intelligence. People can be "smart" in so many different ways, so why do we as a society put a label on intelligence?

SlamNation: Taylor Mali - "What Teachers Make"

This is my first written blog. Something totally new to me, as teaching was just a few years ago. During my first year of teaching, I came across a video on YouTube that really helped me get through the tough time I was dealing with. I would like to share that video now so that others who are struggling to remember their purpose in the realm of education may be as motivated as I was upon listening/watching. Enjoy!



The following video is a performance at a slam poetry event. Taylor Mali shows an empowering response to the questions "What do teachers make?"