Category Archives: Technology

Yearly Case Study Task

Posted on December 22, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

Would love some feedback on this… Case Study Yearly Task Research Questions 1. What are the developmental milestones in young children’s engineering skills? 2. How will the deliberate teaching of engineering at a young age affect subsequent interest in engineering? … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics, Technology | 2 Comments

Scalability of Lego Engineering for Elementary and Middle Schools

Posted on December 21, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

I’ve been wondering how scalable either my ELementary Engineering Curriculum or any other similar program would be in terms of cost per student. So if we assume 24 kids per class, kids working in pairs, teachers sharing the kits by … Continue reading →

Posted in Robotics, Teaching, Technology | 3 Comments

Adventure Story

Posted on December 17, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

Airplane Adventure by Katie and Becca   Hi.  My name is Serena.  I wanted to go to France.  I got in my plane and started it up. [Narrator] When she got into the sky, a flock of birds flew in … Continue reading →

Posted in Robotics, Teaching, Technology | 1 Comment

Sample Third Grade Amazing Adventure Story

Posted on December 16, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

Third graders wrote and acted out (with their robots) adventure stories.  Here’s a sample story.  I’ll post a video next of a different team. The Adventure of Max Toney by CW and AB Max Toney is ready for the summer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Robotics, Teaching, Technology | 2 Comments

Cool Burglar Alarm

Posted on December 15, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

  Here was one cool burglar alarm from today.  There is a motion sensor to detect motion at the door.  The kids were challenged to use the tilt sensor too.  This team put some cams in front of the door.  … Continue reading →

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Kid’s Understanding of Engineering Requirements

Posted on December 14, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

I had an interesting experience today in our fourth grade open ended engineering challenge.  The students have to build and market a burglar alarm using the Lego WeDo Robotics Kit and Resource Kit (extra parts).  One team had the tilt … Continue reading →

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Elementary Robotics Here – How It All Started

Posted on November 28, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

When I came to the Williamsburg Schools eight years ago, there was an established robotics program for sixth graders, which I continued.  It was based on the older Lego RCX robots, which were problem prone.  A grade 1/2 teacher and … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, Robotics, Teaching, Technology | 4 Comments

3 Year Third Grade Students

Posted on November 22, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

The third grade robotics students seem very proficient to me in both building and programming.  I started this group in grade 1 with WeDo robotics.  I wish I could quantify this more.  I will be able to compare their open … Continue reading →

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iPad versus Computer

Posted on November 10, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

I initially saw the iPad as handy way to consume content without having the bulk and  “long” startup times of my laptop.  So I mostly used it to consume content:  check but not write email, check Facebook, web sites, etc.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, Technology | 1 Comment

PK to Grade 6 Elementary Engineering Curriculum Maps Available!

Posted on October 21, 2011 by JohnHeffernan

I have finished the first drafts of Curriculum Maps, based on an Understanding By Design model,  for a PK to Grade 6 robotics curriculum called the Elementary Engineering Curriculum based on BeeBots (PK-K), Lego Education WeDo (Grade 1-4), and Lego … Continue reading →

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