My Visit to RoboKind

My Visit to RoboKind

I had incredible time visiting RoboKind in Dallas, Texas. The best way to describe the experience is by using an analogy. The experience made me feel like Charlie Bucket in Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I always wanted to have the opportunity to learn more about how RoboKind created my favorite humanoid robot, Robon, who I code as a teaching assistant in my classroom. When Charlie's dream came true, and he enters the chocolate factory he sees things that were created beyond his wildest dreams, and he saw a lot of chocolate too. We did have chocolate because I brought it from Hershey, PA (my home state). However, the main point was that I saw things that stretched my current thinking about how all students can gain equal access to education now and in the future. Roald Dahl's book was fiction, but the things that I saw were real! 

The other thing that changed my perspective is learning more about the behind the scenes of developing transformative educational technology tools. In Roald Dahl's book you visualize these amazing creations, but it is rare that you think about everything that went into the development process. One of my favorite parts of the visit involved learning more about the different versions of the humanoids. There are so many different intricate details that go into the process of taking an idea to create a humanoid robot and actually being able to see the vision transform into a physical creation. When I shared my observations with my 9 year old daughter, she said, "It makes sense why Richard Margolin persevered in the process of creating Robon. He did it because it mattered." She is correct. The humanoids from RoboKinds are making a positive impact for my students and students around the world. These humanoids are being used to help develop social skills with students who have Autism. Further, there is a curriculum used to teach students how to use visual block coding. The students are able to use their code to work with an avatar, but then the code can be connected to the physical humanoid robot too. This is a versatile platform that can be used in so many different ways. 

I always respect EdTech companies that value the opinions of the teachers and students who are using these resources. We need to continue to have teachers and engineers partnering together to help create meaningful instructional experiences for our students. I learned a lot from talking to the engineers and everyone who works at RoboKind. I have left this experience with a lot of ideas! I am looking forward to finding ways to best help students learn more about the newest form of literacy: coding. I want students to realize the value in being able to transform their thoughts into a physical creations. I want students to realize that it is ok to fail forward, but it is important to always continue to work hard throughout the design process because it matters! 

National Punctuation Day: September 24th

www.someecards.com



National Punctuation Day is on September 24th. Punctuation is a skill that needs to be taught in school according to the CCSS ELA Literacy Standard L.2.2. Literacy research has demonstrated that students need to learn about grammar in the context of real reading and writing (Learning at the Primary Pond, 2015).

When I was taking a college grad. class, I developing a lesson plan with a team of fellow students. I still use the lesson with my students on National Punctuation Day. It is a lot of fun, and it focuses on important skills that the students can then utilize the rest of the year. Please feel free to use or adapt the lesson to best suit your class. Also, on Twitter, please share with others what you do in your classroom to celebrate National Punctuation Day.

Thank you Education.Com for the free Worksheet and Answer Key. Punctuation can't take a vacation with us around! Please check out Education.com for more exciting language arts worksheets and activities like this!

Don't Let Punctuation Take Vacation

Objective: Students will be able to recognize when to use a period, exclamation point, and question mark. Students will be able to recognize the importance of starting a sentence with a capital letter.

 

Standard: CCSS ELA Literacy Standard L.2.2.

 

Materials: Punctuation Takes a Vacation By: Robin Pulver Illustrated By: Lynn Rowe Reed, 3 Shirts (One shirt draw periods on the shirt, One shirt draw exclamation points on the shirt, and One shirt draw question marks on the shirt), Power Point Introduction, Worksheet and Answer Key, and Student Journals. 

 



Assessment: Writing Journals- Select a writing passage to check for proper use of punctuation and capitalizations.

Procedure:
1. Introduce the different kinds of sentences and punctuation marks. Select 3 volunteers. Have the volunteers wear the punctuation shirts. Show the PowerPoint. Talk about it as a class. As a class come up with a hand motion and sound that represents the different punctuation marks.
2. Read aloud Punctuation Takes a Vacation By: Robin Pulver Illustrated By: Lynn Rowe Reed
3. I display the last slide of the Power Point on the projector. We talk about how it is confusing to read something that does not include punctuation or capitalizations. We correct it together as a class. We use the hand signs and sounds when we read through the corrected sentences.
4.We are a 1:1 school with ipads so I have the students open the worksheet that I post in Schoology. Then the students annotate on the document using PDF Cabinet. I put the students in partners to practice completing the worksheet. We go over it as a class. We use the punctuation sounds and hand motions at the end of the sentences too.
5. Students are encouraged to apply what they learned to a passage in their writer's notebook. Later, I collect the journals to check to see if the students mastered the use of punctuation and capitalization.



 

Gamification

Gamification

I am grateful that I had some amazing experiences over the summer. I learned a lot, and I was able to connect with incredible people. I had the privilege of attending ISTE and then I had the chance to work alongside a group of AMAZING Lead Learners at the Keystone Technology Innovator (KTI) Summit. I was thankful and honored to work alongside the people who I have always admired and respected. I was a KTI Star in 2018, and the Lead Learners invested in me. I was so filled-up from the experience that I couldn't help but want to have the chance to invest in others. I can't wait to see what the KTI2019 Stars continue to do! Also, I learned a lot at KTI! 

KTI Summit Lead Learners, 2019

 John Meehan @MeehanEDU shared about gamification at the KTI Summit. In addition, to teaching us about gamification,  he involved us! I had him autograph a copy of his Edrenaline Rush book too. I read through it a couple of times. I am so thankful that Hollie Woodard @holliewood24 organized this special event! 

Then I attended the Hive Summit.  Michael Matera @mrmatera is the host of the Summit. He shared about his book Explore Like a Pirate. I purchased it, and I read through it a couple of times.

My mind was ready was to explode (in a good way).  I had so many wonderful new ideas. I went to the lake to reflect upon everything. Sometimes I need a minute to reflect. I love nature. Plus, my roomie from KTI2019, Laura Fragassi @FragassiPVtech, reminded everyone at the Summit that it is important to take time for yourself too. If we want to be the best for our students then we need to take time to ourselves too. I have a notebook filled with ideas that I am exploring this year, and a list of new things that I am going to try. 

I decided that I would have the greatest impact if I gamified my college class for pre-service teachers. If pre-service teachers experience gamification then they might become more interested in trying it with their students. 

So here it ... my first (new) attempt at gamification. I have already used gamification in the classroom, but now I a have a new bag of tricks. 

In my Introduction to Early Childhood Class, I decided to assign each student a different theorist to represent in our Survivor game. I created a Google slide template. I provided an example too. At the KTI Summit, Laura Fragassi @FragassiPVtech and Kerin Steigerwalt @kerinteach used a Google slide template for everyone to share-out information their favorite ed. tech tools and teaching strategies. I made the slide template 8.5 x 11 so the students could print it to use it to study later if they would like. Students will discover a lot of information about their theorist, but they will need to curate the information. They need to select two important facts. Plus, they need to select the most important thing about their theorist. They will need to provide references in the slide notes section.

I will be making a video-introduction using my green screens to build-up the excitement. At the KTI Summit, our STEM Challenges were led by Tom Tancin @tancinscience, we used PowToon to build-up the excitement for different challenges. When the Survivor game starts we will assume the role of our theorist. Everyone will wear a name tag.

I will give out envelopes. Inside of the one envelope, I will include an immunity idol. After it is used it will be hidden in an envelope. I reshuffle and redistribute. I will divide the class into three groups (red, blue, and yellow team). As a group, they will complete Early Childhood challenges to earn immunity. For example, they will sort different types of instructional models based-on the provided examples. The two teams who do not have immunity will go to tribal council. At tribal council they need to talk like the theorist, and they need to explain why they are the most valuable person to the field of early childhood education. I will randomly pull the name of two members to go home per round. I will put-out their torch (a cup that looks like a torch). We will continue until we are down to the final tribal council. The class will listen to the final plea of the theorist, and then the class will vote. They will write why they think that theorist should win. 

I am so excited to give this a try! If you have suggestions or additional ideas for how I could improve this experience for my pre-service teachers then please reach out to me. 

STREAM Education

STREAM K-6

Ann Noonen and I will be sharing about STREAM Education at the KTI Summit. If you would like to learn more about ways to use Literacy-Based STEM Challenges with your students then please join us on Thursday, July 25th 9-10:15 am in Room 240. Please feel free to check-out our website if you are not able to attend our session: https://sites.google.com/view/streamk-6/home

 

10 Ways to Use Green Screens to Teach ELA

10 Ways to Use Green Screens to Teach ELA

Green screens can be integrated into English Language Arts (ELA) to make Learning fun and exciting!! I have the 10 ways listed below. Additional examples are available on my website: https://sites.google.com/view/redcays-resources-green-screen/home 

If you are at the KTI Summit, I will be presenting on Wed. July 24th from 12:45-2 in Room 104.

Global Launch Day!

Global Launch Day

The girls have been exploring space because they participated in Global Launch Day on July 16, 2019. The girls used Merge Cubes and an AR space app to experience space.  Actually, the girls created their own Merge Cubes using this template. If you want then you can use the one side of the template to create your own Merge Shirt. If you print the front of the Merge Cube template onto an iron-on printable sheet then you can apply it to your own t-shirt. 

This past year, Girls Who Code started providing club membership for girls who are in Grade 3. Girls Who Code information will be available to explore. Example projects will be provided. The girls in the club code Robon (RoboKind) to teach lessons to younger students.  A demo will be provided of how the girls coded Robon to share facts about the solar system. 

If you are the KTI Summit then come over to check-out our projects during STEM night on Tuesday, July 23rd from 6:30-8:30. 

Social Robots Empower Learners

Social Robots Empower Learners

When I was presenting at the state STEM conference, I met Milo from RoboKind. I was amazed that there was a humanoid robot being used to help students with Autism (Robots4Autism). I was curious about how RoboKind's platform was expanding into Robots4STEM with Jett. Further,  I learned that the company was going to come out with a female robot named Robon. I started to wonder what would happen if I had a female robot that could be used to help girls to learn to code. We need to empower more girls to pursue the computer science field. Well, I ended-up getting the first female humanoid from the company. I heard that Girls Who Code clubs were now including younger girls, so I started my club with third graders. The girls spent one hour a week learning through the RoboKind's missions. Essentially, the girls learned about key coding terms and concepts. The girls use block code to code an avatar. Then the robot is connected to the code that the girls write- The girls see that their code makes an impact! The girls in my club applied what they learned to individual projects. The girls taught lessons to younger students. The girls coded Robon to act as a teacher assistant throughout the lesson. You can see some examples of their work on our Girls Who Code Robot website. I decided that I was going to take this a step further. I decided to code Robon to act as a teaching assistant in my classroom.  My research about social robots led to development of Redcay's STEM-oscope Model that is used to describe the connections between the use of social robots, STEM Education, and Metacognition. InTechOpen is publishing my research in Sept. in a book that is coming out in the UK. Additionally, the research is published as an Open Resource called "Redcay's STEM-oscope Model." Teachers will not be replaced by robots. Rather, teachers will code humanoid robots to act as teacher assistants in the classroom.

I will be sharing about how I use social robots to empower learners at the KTI2019 Summit on Tuesday, July 23rd from 2:45-4.

Engaging Students

Engaging Students

I am always looking for new ways to engage EVERY learner in my class. I started a website highlighting some of my favorite FREE ed tech tools that help engage students. I will continue to add to this site overtime. At this point, I included FlipGrid, GridPals, FlipHunts, FlipGridAR, GooseChase, and MysterySkype. Here is the website link: https://sites.google.com/view/redcaysresourcesengagestudents/home

I will be presenting about ways that you can engage students at the KTI2019 Summit on Tuesday, July 23 from 9:10-10:25 (Room 105). If you are not able to attend my session then please feel free to check-out the website and reach-out to me with questions. 

ISTE19 Reflections

ISTE19 Was Amazing!! 

ISTE19 was in my home state: PA. I am a proud PA Educator, and I am happy to be a member of the PAECT.  I learned a lot, and I had the chance to connect with so many people. I was honored to take part in Dr. Sam Fecich's @sfecich #edumagic collaborative blog post with @AmandaJeanne2 @TeacherEdBU @MrsTannenb and @erinhall47: https://buff.ly/2JsCU1H! We shared-out some of our takeaways from ISTE19.  I loved having the chance to connect with others. I saw some of my old friends and I made new friends. Plus, I was so excited to meet some the creators of some of my favorite Ed Tech tools. I was thankful that I had the chance to connect with so many amazing educators when I was presenting too. ISTE20 will be in Anaheim, CA! 

@RedcayResources Ed Tech Updates

Are you interested in learning about new ed tech tools in five minutes or less? Then check-out @RedcayResources Quick Ed Tech Updates. 

Let's Check-Out FlipGridAR

On Twitter, @kerszi shared about how you can purchase a HP Sprocketto print the QR to access the AR. Additional info. Is available from Kayla Engle @KaylaEngle4 Also, you can check-out different FlipGrid AR ideas in the Wakelet Collection. 

ISTE 2019

I am excited to attend ISTE 2019 in Philly. I can't believe that the #1 Global Ed. Tech conference is in my home state. I look forward to learning and sharing ideas. I will post my resources that I will be sharing with others throughout the conference. Even if you are not able to attend the conference then you can still check-out these resources.

#iste19 #isteinpa #presenterofiste

Saturday, 6/22

Conference Website Link

Session Trailer Link

Session Description Link

Session Handout Link

Here are a couple of robots and STEM tools that I featured in my presentation: 

RoboKind,  Nearpod,  Code-a-pillar,  Code and Go Robot Mouse,  Sam Labs, Creation Crate Junior Tech Card, Code.Org, ScratchJr. 

Here's the link to Creation Crate Junior Girls That Make 

Redcay's STEMoscope Model

After #isteTEN, I was notified that my the online copy of my research was released. My research study led to a new model called STEM-oscope. This model combines metacognition, social robots, and STEM Challenges. You can check-out the full article here. 

Sunday, 6/23

I hope that you can stop by the PAECT Regional Space in Broad Street Atrium. I can highlight some literacy-based STEM Challenges from our PDE STEM Toolkit.  Also, I have my robot Robin from RoboKind.  I can code her to say a customized message to you too. You can play with some VR from Nearpod.  I have an interactive FlipGrid that provides videos explaining different ideas to enhance your STEM Instruction. I will have a link to a STEM Breakout EDU that I co-authored.

The first 25 people will get a Creation Crate Junior TechCard kit. You get a chance to make your own balloon car!  

Conference Website Link

Session Handout Link

In PAECT Regional Space, we are collecting new socks for kids. The socks will be donated to Needleworker's Guild of America, who will then distribute the socks across our Commonwealth! 

 

Monday, 6/24

 

Oh, boy! Monday will be a day filled with green screen fun!! I have included a snapshot of the 10 Ways That You Can Use Green Screens to Enhance Elementary ELA. Also, at the Interactive Lecture I will have PRIZES! Also, you will get chance to play and explore! Padcaster will be coming to help take pictures too. 

Presentation Handout/Website Link

Presentation Trailer 

Tuesday, 6/25

Did you hear the news? RoboKind's robot, Robon, empowers learners! In my classroom I code Robon to act as a teacher assistant. My research study (published by InTechOpen) demonstrated that students show higher levels of understanding and engagement are notable when social robots are used in conjunction with STEM Challenges. Also, I use Robon to empower My Girls Who Code Robot Club. If you are interested in learning more then please stop by the Camcor Booth #1344 for my Teacher Feature at 1:30 and 2:30. I hope to see you there!

Here is a link to our website: https://sites.google.com/view/girls-who-code-robots/home?authuser=0 

Girls Who Code Robots

Girls Who Code Robots

If you would like to learn more about my Girls Who Code Robots Club then check-out our website: https://sites.google.com/view/girls-who-code-robots/home?authuser=0 

EdChat for Pre-Service Teachers

If you are pre-service teacher then please check out this EdChat! Dr. Sam Fecich and I provided some tips to help you shine! Enjoy! https://youtu.be/m5EV8mJSzWo 

#OneWord for the New Year

What is your one word for the New Year?

Jon Gordon posted a challenge on Twitter for people to share their one word for the New Year. I decided to bring this same challenge to my second grade students. They came up with some wonderful ideas!

Here are a couple of video posts from my students ...

#oneword -Gumption - https://flipgrid.com/s/e80f865f2fce
#oneword- Proud - https://flipgrid.com/s/fe90be28b533
#oneword- Achievement  https://flipgrid.com/s/a67e4e645408 
#oneword- Hope - https://flipgrid.com/s/90365ed93c0b