Connect It All

I have my edmodo, schoology, two Twitter accounts, Facebook account, Pinterest account, four websites, one blog, two google accounts, a youtube account and I am sure I am missing more.

• http://rebeccabrink.wix.com/5thgradereading Reading Website
• http://rebeccabrink.wix.com/math Math website
• https://sites.google.com/site/missbrinkresources/ My Resource Page
• https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RebeccaBrink1986/about Google+
• @RebeccaBrink1
• @MissBgrade5

I have gone login crazy. I have, however been happy with two apps that have helped somewhat organize all this information.

Hootsuite and Flipboard have help with minimizing all the windows needed to be opened. I do not like how Hootsuite will only let you have three accounts without paying; I like free resources :). My goal this year is to organize myself and my workflow for my students. I think using something like Schoology.com can enable me to link everything to the one space. Hopefully Google Drive will work better for uploading assignments. I plan to experiment uploading and attaching videos to flip the classroom instead of just adding the links. 

Student Post- Tuesday Tinker

When I finally got the main part to the x-box open with Mia I got so excited because I feel like I have been working on I forever.
-Nia

When we were tinkering with the old desktop monitor we accomplished a lot. We had to separate the frame from the main part of the monitor, so we cut the wires connecting them. I think we are having great progress.
-Sam

Student Post- Thursday Science Centers

group three and one worked on the computer and the tiny tv we managed so far to losen the computers frame and unscrewed bits and pieces of the tiny tv and  successfully manged to get pieces off from both machines

-Evan 

It was very fun today in tinker time except when we got the five minute warning. We our class rushes to put the heavy 2007 computer ad we tried to get shocked. With all the rushing I did not realize that my hand was on an un-insulated wire one word. OUCH! 

-Jillian

It was awesome, fun, and very interesting today. we hauled a huge ancient computer today. it was very cool to see what was inside our computers.

~Emmanuel

Chicago Boat Trip

We took the day off of tinkering and using our 1:1 devices to enjoy the awesome city we live by, Chicago. We did an architectural tour that was very fun!

Science Centers- Student Responses

Like I said yesterday about how failure is basically a hint to success, today my group and I got the black covering and the tin protector off of the monitor. All it took was teamwork. Once everyone grabbed or pulled something, BAM!!!!! the back popped of like that. And for the tin part, there were only a couple screws and a small pull and that was off with no sweat. Tomorrow, we are going to try to get the screen off. Now that my group knows the key to success, (teamwork) we will know one step on our next achievement.

                               ~Mia

Two students are working on creating the student activities in Frolyc!

Student Post- Thoughts and Reflection

I really love tinkering so far. It's very fun and interesting. The only frustrating part is wiping off the lube!
                               ~Emmanuel

Tinker time is something people need to incorporate into regular classrooms because it lets you find the core of an object Tinkering lets you make something. Plus you feel awesome after you bang a hammer on some random object! Recently I broke into a Play Station 1 and I got to see the memory card and the circuit board  even the eject button worked with the machine being broken up into little parts. It was an awesome thing to break up!
                               ~Ben T:)

I think that everyone can agree that frustration is the biggest obstacle that is going to make you upset while Tinkering. You get so excited that you figure out what to do and you try it and it turns out you fail. But for those bright side people out there, each time you fail it gives a hint or an idea of how you can try again.
                                        ~Mia

I think tinkering is going really well because when we were taking apart my x-box we finally got actually in it and it was cool to see peoples reactions when you finally see what is inside
                                         -Nia

It was difficult working with two groups at a time because we did not have a lot of tools.
                                  -Jillian

                           

Google Hangout

Today our class and one other 5th grade room from the district had a Google Hangout with the developer of Frolyc, Nirupama Bala.

The students enjoyed seeing Niru and hearing how she began developing apps. She talked about the challenges and the purpose around her apps.

Christine Tomasino gets our class ready to begin the Google Hangout.

Nirupama tells the class about her family and why she began creating apps.

Saying goodbye to everyone!

I know we are really excited for our next Google hangout!

Day 1 Tinkering and Frolycing

We had a bumpy start to the first day. Half of my class is in gifted art and were out during part of science centers. The other half of the students began taking some of the objects apart. A few things got broken out of excitement and we had to stop and review expectations.

The students were expected to reflect using Frolyc. I made a mistake and it did not allow the students to respond to one out of the three questions, but other than that, it went very well. The students had an easy time reflecting.

I began collecting the responses from the students as they were saving their work! The example below was asking the students to draw a diagram or a sketch of what they could create from the materials they used.

I took charge of organizing the materials back in place, but the students will began taking on more responsibility with this in the near future.

Student Motivation

On Monday, I introduced the idea of tinkering and how we would use the Frolyc app. The students excitement was clear right away. They started talking about all these tools their parents use at home. I love that they want to explore, but of course safety is my number one priority. I told my students that, as long as their parents signed a letter letting the child bring in objects from home, they could add them to the tools I brought.

Unfortunately, we did not make it to the tinkering center this morning because I was called out for a few meetings all morning :( When I did return from my meeting in the afternoon, I realized that the kids are just as excited to dissect these old machines and other gadgets as I am.

 There were letters piled on my desk assigning persimmon to use the different tools and gadgets.

 There were also boxes of old electronics and parts around the room.

We had so much to work with, we decided to designate a special area in the classroom to store our materials!

I will make sure to screenshot some of their responses on Frolyc on Wednesday. I am excited to see what designs they will come up with and how they will use their materials collected!

Learning to Frolyc

I love learning new things along with my students. Frolyc, in general, is completely new to me. I have assigned their first reflective response for tomorrow's science lab center 4.

Intro page includes some examples from the book The Art of Tinkering.

I include a video (which was really easy!) to start them on some ideas of how to spend this 20 minute rotation.

The first slide will ask them to fill in the blank with a list of materials they will use that day.

I made sure to have a slide for the students to respond with any questions they have while working. This is all about inquiry and making hypotheses.

Lastly, I wanted to see some sort of plan or diagram from the students in a drawing/sketch. I know the students are able to build simple circuits, because this was a focus in fourth grade, and I hope they will include some circuits in their varied designs!

Hopefully the next few posts on this blog will be from my students! I am excited to see what they learn tomorrow, how they respond to failure and hopefully preserver to great outcomes!

Frolyc Beta Test

My students are testing out the application called Frolyc. I did not tell the students how to use the app. I gave them the login code as well as a student number. Over the weekend I asked them to play around with the app and find out what works and what doesn't. This is what they found so far:

We are in the process of learning the basics and loving the new app!

The Art of Tinkering

We are concluding our 5th grade year and there are many things that we are working on. My students are completing their Genius Hour projects, Beta testing the student creating tool for Frolyc, and understanding the art of tinkering!

I began reading The Art of Tinkering by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich. We have center work for science and this week we will begin a "tinkering" center. I have old computers, remotes, felt, parts to a circuit, and more. My goal is to collect parts as we go. My goal is that my students will post comments and knew understandings as well.

Check out this video: Hack This Book!
What an inspiration!