Fostering Creativity in the Classroom By: Becca Flesher Robert L. Bland Middle School

WV State Tech Conference Opening Speaker: Kelly Reddin—Global Master Trainer—LEGO Education Tuesday Session: Engaging Students Through Educational Robotics—Todd Ensign—NASA Thursday Session: Coding Clubs—Rachel Burkett—Hampshire County BOE Closing Speaker: Brent Frey—Director of Education Development and Professional Learning—Apple, Inc.

LEGO Education Use the LEGO bricks provided to make a duck, you have 1 minute.

READY, SET, GO!!!

Does anyone have the same exact duck? TIME IS UP!!!! Does anyone have the same exact duck?

What skills were just used? Problem Solving Creative thinking Vocabulary Critical Thinking Productivity Engineering

Why use LEGOS? 98% of 3 year olds have a genius-level of creativity By the age of 5, 80% are using their creative potential At the age of 12, only 2% of kids are thinking as creativity as they should be WHY?

What is your role? Are you partly responsible for getting students to think creatively?

With a partner, use the pieces you have to make a tree. LEGOS in the classroom With a partner, use the pieces you have to make a tree.

What new skill? COLLABORATION

Anyone can be creative… Trapper—Age 2 Taya—Age 4 Carter—Age 3 Gentry—Age 4

What are some ways you can incorporate LEGOS into your classroom? https://education.lego.com/en-us

Coding I’m SCARED! Don’t make me do it! I’m not a computer teacher… WHY?! It’s fun Its addicting Students don’t know they are learning Building useful skills

Code.org Curriculum based coding website Variety of courses for all grade levels Teacher training course FREE

Why teach coding? Brent Frey—Apple, Inc. 500,000 computer science jobs open last year Only 48,000 computer science graduates Each graduate could have 11 jobs! Don’t you want this opportunity for your students?

What skills? Problem solving Critical thinking Collaborating Persistence Are these critical to be successful in life, no matter what job you have?

Let’s Explore https://code.org/

How can you incorporate coding into your classroom?

Robotics in WV NASA in Fairmont FREE Teacher training (3-6 hours) FREE Student training (25 at a time) FREE $20,000 kits after training (borrowed only)

Robotics Skills STEM Engineering based challenges Computer programming Young Learners: guess and check to program robots to go 25cm (ratios) Middle Learners: Program robots to go forward 3 rotations and measure (3 rotations=1080 degrees=51cm Older Learners: gear ratios

Competitions Monroe County Robotics Club won World Championships last year Program robot to fly in Space station on August 12

Interested in starting a club? Student Workshop Jamie.Ford@ivv.nasa.gov  (304)367-8379 Teacher Workshop Erc@ivv.nasa.gov

Minecraft Here is the information I have, if you would like to explore I AM NOT GOING THERE! But, the possibilities are endless for creativity Model Cell Model Heart Plantation Here is the information I have, if you would like to explore Needs Windows10 https://minecraft.net/en/ Mark Moore, WVDE Mramoore@k12.wv.us Remember: exploration is the best way to learn new technologies!

Thank You! Questions, Comments, Concerns?