Summer Spark 2016

Research shows that in the stages of early childhood development there is a critical connection between time spent in nature and a child’s brain development.  Children are curious about their surroundings; the outdoors provides a perfect vehicle for the developmental of the whole child and to help them make sense of the world.  With today's fast paced structured day, at home and in school, children are not getting outside and exploring on their own.  We will look at current research of the importance of outdoor play and how hands-on outdoor experiences are important to the development of the whole child.  Participants will leave with information and activities to get them started on the path to outdoor experiences in all school settings.  

When do we ever get time to just play? This is an opportunity to play with different materials that are available in The Wildcat Creation Station. A chance to see what kinds of activities that can be done using a Maker Space.

3D Printing the Beauty of Failure

Over the last two years I have been working to try and break down the skills necessary for students to create and print their own unique 3D pieces. As an Upper School art teacher I am always looking for something to “spark” their sense of wonder and thirst to learn something new. 3D printing is a 15 billion dollar industry that is projected to grow at a 300% rate over the next 8 years. After a lot of exporation of different 3D design applications I have settled on the online application Tinkercad.com because of its ease of use. My students continue to astonish me with the unique creations that they have made with such a simple tool. This year, I was lucky enough to get a 3D printer in my classroom and came face to face with the constant cycle of failure and success intrinsic to 3D design and printing. There are so many variables in the 3D printing process that it can be a daunting task to make sure students have a positive experience in the end. I find it valuable to teach students how to navigate the inevitable setbacks so that they can get the payoff of a successful print. The mindset that mistakes and problems are a part of the process will serve them well in a world that changes so rapidly, Students learn that being adaptable will enhance their flexibility and creativity to better prepare them for necessary job skills in the near future.

In this workshop I will cover the basics of the 3D printing process and its use in business and art. Participants will gain a basic understanding of simple construction techniques, and essential information on how the design must be formatted in order to print properly. I will give links to good teaching resources for different grade levels and subject areas for projects that teachers could use in their classrooms. We can also connect to each other as a learning community online so that we can support each other through the eventual struggles and successes. The hands on learning and concept attainment that can be gained by prototyping models quickly are skills that are very useful for a variety of classes.