Shepp EdTech - Technology Education Blog

Stephen Downes comments (http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=45475) on the report from the Canadian Council on Learning entitled “REPORT ON LEARNING IN CANADA 2008” (pdf).  I found the following excerpt from the report interesting:

While most Canadians receive a solid foundation of formal education, many lack sufficient competencies to succeed in an increasingly complex and uncertain future. Employers seek employees with a more sophisticated array of capabilities, beyond the basic job requirements.These skills include: decision-making, teamwork, problem solving, entrepreneurship, leadership, information and communication technology (ICT) skills, the ability to communicate effectively and a desire to learn (p. 41).

Notice the list of skills?  As a technology teacher, I was struck with how these skills fit so perfectly into the technology curriculum.  I have noticed the last few years a shift in educational priorities away from the technology curriculum.  Recently, a skills-based curriclum (akin to a new and improved industrial arts) has been integrated in the Newfoundland and Labrador school, which is a great start.  My concern is that we may be pushing computer technology skills aside assuming that our students already know the basics.  My question is what are the skills that high school chidren already have?  What are we assuming and is it accurate?  I have my own opinions about this but I would like to hear from you so please comment.

Here is a link to the video:  http://revision3.com/systm/robogamesV2

I ordered a free cd from Ubuntu of their latest release Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) and installed it on my Acer Inspire laptop, which already had Vista Home Premium.  I liked that I could install it from within Vista but I don’t think it is quite ready for the mainstream.  Here are the positives:

• easy install (never shagged up Vista)
• recognized my wireless connection
• updates automatically
• great 3d effects
• lots of software included (i.e. Open Office)
• iPod works automatically when plugged in
• Live cd allows you to use it without installing (boot from the cd)

The negatives:

• not always easy to install software (I sometimes had to use Terminal)
• did not recognize my built-in web cam
• learning curve for people used to Windows interface
• lots of software and hardware still not supported
• my nVidia graphics card had to use a generic driver (sometimes flaky)

If you are a techie or knowledge geek then go for it, otherwise use with caution.

I plan to start using podcasting in my junior high technology classes this coming school year.  I want to keep it as simple and cheap as possible so I am planning to use Audacity .  I’m doing a lot of research on podcasting and listening to a lot of podcast in iTunes like Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy.

If you are an experienced podcaster, I would love to hear from you.  Please pass along any advice you may have about podcasting but please keep in mind I work in the public education system so cheap is essential.

The Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Academy cordially invites you to attend this year’s Robotics Educators Conference, to be held at Butler County Community College, north of Pittsburgh in Butler, PA.

The Conference is taking place August 6-8, 2008. For more information please visit this link:

http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/robots/corridor/main/home_matter/conference.htm

The First LEGO League (FLL) 2008 season has begun with the opening of registration on May 1, 2008. This year’s theme is Climate Connections.

Here are some of the deadlines that teams will need to keep in mind:

May 1, 2008 - Team Registration and Product Sales Open Online (http://www.register4fll.com/)
May - Robot sets, FIRST DVDs and Coaches’ Handbooks Begin to Ship
August 1 - Field Set-up kits Begin to Ship
September 5 - International Challenge Announced
September 30 - Team Registration Closes/Last Day to Order Products
October 1-12 - Tournament Applications Accepted
November - December - NL Intermediate Skills Canada Robotics competition and FLL Tournament
April 2009 - FLL World Festival

Below is a summary of the costs to FLL Teams:

Expenses:

• FLL Registration Fee - $235.00
• FLL Field Setup Kit - $78.00

Optional Robotics Kits:

• MINDSTORMS NXT Robot Set - $435.00

Optional Parts - NXT:

• Rechargeable Battery - $70.00
• Transformer - $25.50
• NXT Interactive Motor - $23.00
• NXT Touch Sensor - $22.00
• NXT Light Sensor - $22.00
• NXT Ultrasonic Sensor - $48.00
• NXT Resource Set - $65.00

Optional Parts - RCX:

• RCX Light Sensor - $18.75
• RCX Rotation Sensor - $21.00
• RCX 9V Gear Motor - $19.75

The theme for the 2008 FLL Challenge is Climate Connections. There is not a lot of info on it yet but FLL has posted a brief summary about it in the US section of the FLL web site (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=70).

Registration for FLL 2008 opens May 1, 2008. You can register online on the FLL Registration site (http://www.register4fll.com/).

As part of my robotics club we have a challenge that students complete in groups to decide a club championship. This year’s challenge was called the Corn Toss. Here is a video of the robots and the challenge:

It never ceases to amaze me how young people find solutions to the FLL challenges. Here is a post, FLL - A “Perfecter” Score?, on the NXTStep Blog.

I’ve posted the video below:

Here is the Stringbot that was built and programmed from James Kelly’s book, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure ().