Social discussion of CS in K-12

["Wolske, Martin B" <mwolske AT illinois.edu>]

So my TA in my one class, and a current student the studio, was also raising questions about the RPi's. It's not so much that I'm set on them, as they might potentially fit in with exploring how Kenwood could make use of the ones they got as part of a Demystifying
 Tech workshop.

That being said, he and I just finished a quick brainstorm before I read this email. This is a sustainable electronics initiative grant. What if instead of buying and sending home RPi's, which ultimately are pretty limited in capability, we purchased the pieces so that as part of the disassembly and reassembly of the computer exercise, they could reassemble with a brand new motherboard but reuse the same case and hard drive, or something similar. They'd learn about the parts of the computer and how the interconnect. PLUS, they'd end up with an upgraded computer and even learn how they potentially could upgrade the computers of friends and family.

Regarding the starting with kids first, to quote Chris Traeger, "That is *literally* the best idea I've ever heard!" If we had enough time I could even imagine leaving a block at the end where we could brainstorm with the kids what lesson should be taught to their parents and how to go about teaching it. I too noticed some parents were much more the ones learning and others were encouraging their kids to be the ones to learn hands-on while they learned by watching and guiding their kids. This would be a nice way to model kids as teachers. Collateral learning rocks!

We've gotten bits and pieces of feedback regarding the Demystifying Technology workshops, but Samaa and I are working now on an IRB to take it to a more formal level. Not sure if I'll get it submitted today yet, but definitely by tomorrow evening. This is actually a good time to see if anyone else would like to be on that IRB as a researcher. I can add collaborators to the Box.net folder for those interested.

-- Martin

On Jan 27, 2014, at 2:16 PM, Todd Lash <lashtodd AT champaignschools.org> wrote:

Martin,

What exactly do you have in mind with the Rpi's?  Have you used the Pi's before in a workshop demystifying environment?  How were they received? What about running a demystifying just for kids, for most of a day(s) and then asking the parents to come toward the end for the kids to teach?  While I loved the last Demystifying we did, there were some children that got very little hands on time with the machines due to differing parenting styles etc.  

Did we ever get feedback from the first two groups that participated?  I would really like to know how those machines are being used currently!  Maybe that could at least partially inform the decision as to which way we go next?

Thanks,

Todd

Todd Lash

Librarian

Kenwood Elementary School

1001 Stratford Dr. 

Champaign, IL 61821

217.351.3815

kenwoodlibrary.wordpress.com

"But do you believe in something beautiful?
Then get up and be it!"

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

---

From: cspiggers-bounces AT lists.mste.illinois.edu <cspiggers-bounces AT lists.mste.illinois.edu> on behalf of Wolske, Martin B <mwolske AT illinois.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 10:32 AM
To: Kimberly Anderson; csPiggers AT lists.mste.illinois.edu
Subject: [csPiggers] Fwd: documents for ISTC FY14 proposal submissions for spring semester

 

If we had $7500 to repeat or scale what we've been doing at Kenwood to bridge the home/school divide through the Demystifying Technology workshops, how might we spend it? Buy Raspberry Pi's to distribute instead of, or in addition to, recycled computers? Or maybe use the RPi or some upgrade or peripheral as incentive to bring parents from previous Demystifying Tech workshops back for a second workshop and to encourage greater collaboration with teachers? Expand to additional schools?

-- Martin

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Holm, Nancy L" <naholm AT illinois.edu>

Subject: documents for ISTC FY14 proposal submissions for spring semester

Date: January 26, 2014 9:43:45 PM CST

To: "Wolske, Martin B" <mwolske AT illinois.edu>

Cc: "Scrogum, Joy Joann" <jscrogum AT illinois.edu>

Martin: 

 

      As I mentioned at the last consortium meeting, I have a small amount of funds available for projects on sustainable electronics this spring. Your school project was of interest to us and in line with our goals in our Sustainable Electronics Initiative.  I have attached a brief description of our Sponsored Research program and information about submitting a proposal to me.  The seed grants can be for up to $7,500 and are to be completed in FY14 which ends June 30, 2014 (we can discuss if this does not meet your planned timeframe).  We will be having a broader RFP for FY15 which should be out by the end of Feb.  That will include Sustainable Electronics as well as other topics. I will be encouraging other consortium members to review that and see if they have projects to submit for that larger program.

 

      Please let me know if you are interested in submitting a proposal for your Kenwood school project, or including other schools or groups.  Please contact me with any questions.

 

Best regards,

Nancy

 

Nancy Holm

ISTC Assistant Director

217-244-3330