This week was special to me.  I felt like it was the furthest deviation from what I am comfortable teaching.  I spent quite a lot of time researching electronics and circuits and programming this past year, yet only feel like I’ve “scratched” the surface.

I’ve always acknowledged that students will be more advanced than me at any new technology.  I am not afraid of it.  I welcome it.  I accept that students have a stronger entry level knowledge of contemporary devices and play to their strengths.  I love observing what that looks like in the S.T.E.A.M. Club setting.  Sometimes students have “seen that before.”  Other times they are able to easily apply their knowledge to new concepts.  And yet, on the lucky occasion, I have found something they’ve never seen before!  They attack these learning experiences with eager abandon.

This week’s stations were broken down into: Circuit stickers, Squishy circuits, Programming, and RC Robotics.

Students explored circuitry with: the Makey Makey (and bananas); Squishy Circuits (and conductive / insulating doughs); Snap Circuits Jr.; Cool Circuits (puzzle game); TinkerCrates (paper circuits and doodle bot); and made a light up greeting card with Chibitronics Circuit Stickers & the Electron Inks’ Circuit Scribe Pen.

Students also explored programming and RC robotics with: Scratch Jr. (animation software); Ozobots; AirHogs Helicopter & Atomosphere Axis; Sphero Ollie (with iPhones, Droids, and iPad mini); and made Bristlebots (motorized toothbrush robots)!