During a recent board meeting for the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, Dr. Peggy Lawson, coordinator of instructional technology, presented a report demonstrating how the school division is preparing students for today’s world through 21st Century Learning.
The P21’s Framework for 21st Century Learning was developed with input from teachers, education experts, and business leaders to define and illustrate the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in work, life and citizenship, as well as the support systems necessary for 21st century learning out comes. It focuses on the following component skills: Critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, collaboration, communication, character, citizenship and computers and digital technologies.
In attendance to showcase 21st Century learning environments and opportunities in Cornerstone schools, from low technology to high technology, were several guests who explained and illustrated the use of Makerspaces, 3D Printing, Coding and Robotics. Makerspaces are described as collaborative and creative learning environments where people can come together to use and learn to use materials as well as develop creative projects.
Tammy Cole, principal at MacLeod Elementary School, gave the board a snapshot of the makerspace days, including Cardboard Day, Tinker Day and Lego Day, which were held to help develop a positive school culture, create wellness opportunities for students and staff, and inspire students to create, problem solve and collaborate. She expressed how the makerspace opportunities “promoted such activity and excitement” among the students as they worked together.
Vice-Principal Kim Kazimer and teacher Michael Van Betuw from Stoughton Central School explained that their school was the first in the east service area to participate in the new Focus School Support Model developed and implemented this school year with one of the established goals being to increase student engagement. With the unusually high number of extreme cold days resulting in more indoor recesses, noon hour scheduling was replaced with activities open to all where students eagerly signed up to participate and rotate through clubs of their choosing, i.e. Lego building, board games and card games as well as STEM challenges like paper airplane making and competition and bridge building.
Positives of this initiative include providing a setting for relationship building, improved social skills, development of logical thinking and problem solving skills and the opportunity for staff to build a positive rapport with the students, while challenges evolve around space, cost and providing for adequate supervision. Plans for further student engagement opportunities are already being developed for the 2017-18 school year which will include school wide participation.
Teacher Michael Callfas from Pangman School spoke of a project whereby students developed a new fire escape plan through the use of mathematics and the creation of a 3D model of the school where they utilized a 3D printer.
Later, the board room was transformed into a momentary classroom with the assistance of Susan Wilson, a Wawota Parkland School teacher, and student Hannah Johnson who led a hands-on instructive presentation during which board members, administration and media learned how to program and activate a sphero through the use of an iPad, resulting in boisterous participation by all. In addition, Julia Houff, also from Wawota Parkland School, gave a Powerpoint demonstration of a project she undertook to code and program a game. Meeting attendees were then invited to a conference room to view a 3D printer in action, with each person receiving a take-home mini print sample.
It was noted that 3D printers can be used for numerous purposes ranging from creating an attachment for a faucet to printing full prosthetics.
