Coding, Robotics & Making: Finding Money to Support

your STEM Program

Susan WellsFounder, Camp TechTerraISTE MLN PD ChairDurham, NC

wellssusans@gmail.com@Wellssusan

In this session….

In this Coding, Robotics & Making- Finding money to support your STEM program Webinar

In this session attendees will:

learn how the Camp TechTerra curriculum provides a unique learning experience combining mobile technologies, coding, robotics, MakersEd, science and the great outdoors

learn how a TechTerra certification, delivered as a live training to teachers, gives them the knowledge and ability to easily and effectively incorporate STEM and nature in their own classrooms

receive grant tips and opportunities to fund your own STEM coding-based program

Foundations of STEMCoding…behind the curtain of all digital tools, everyone needs to have the opportunity to work and play here

Robotics…beginning with youngest learners working on artificial agents guided by computer programming; sophisticated work, purposeful and authentic

Making…thinking, considering, designing, imagining, playing, creating; if you can think it, you can make it; to solve a problem, to enjoy the process, to make life better

And why the “A” for STEAM?

Including the Arts, why?

Makes us human. Makes life worth living. Makes us better thinkers.

Integrated throughout the curriculum, across all content areas

Photos- Camp TechTerra “Science Art Project Based Learning”

What is coding/programming?

Programming/Coding is the way in which a person tells a computer what to do.

A computer does not understand regular English. A computer cannot be told to go wash the dishes. Computers understand only a small set of instructions. Programming is the way in which a computer is told to follow directions and solve a problem.

Using programming puzzle games in block language including Lightbot, Kodable and Tynker… these games … teach basic programming logic or thinking by combining the visual/pictures of typed language written (ie C++, Java, Python) and what happens when you carrying those instructions out.

Why?... All students have the right to be creators not solely consumers.

Explaining coding to kids:Parts of coding our kids will learn this week-

Through planning…putting themselves in the robot/cute monster/dinosaur/cat position and figure out how to guide their character through the puzzle to solve a challenge.

Through programming or putting their steps in sequence/order.

Through testing, running their program to see if it works.

Through debugging, when it doesn’t work rerunning their program, finding why not and moving directions or taking them out to understand what the problem was; in other words fixing mistakes.

Coolest part…everyone will fail, can’t learn to code without failing, otherwise known as “debugging!”

Our Youngest kids code…

Physical coding…beginning of teaching code … projection with

Copernicus 3in1 http://www.copernicused.com/product/e3in1/3-in-1-

interactive-easel or taped floor grid

Favorite coding programs…

#1 choice youngest learners…LightbotJrhttp://lightbot.com

Why is Lightbot a favorite…

Countable

Teach from the grid

No need to drag and drop

Robot stays put as you re-run and debug

Can easily rewind to practice

Provides challenge for acceleration

Teaching Coding & Robotics

Coding

Lightbothttp://lightbot.com/

Scratch, Jr. http://www.scratchjr.org/

Kodablehttps://www.kodable.com/

Robozzlehttp://www.robozzle.com/

Cargobothttp://twolivesleft.com/CargoBot/

Robotics

Birdbrain Tech www.birdbraintechnologies.com

EZ-Robot www.ez-robot.com

Cubetto (youngest learners) www.primo.io

Lego www.legoengineering.com

Teaching Robotics in school…

Purpose is to make the work of humans lighter or easier…replacing the human worker…having students consider what this means for humanity…

Making & MakerSpaces…

http://stories.makerbot.com

Watch Camp TechTerra below…

CamCamp TechTerra Certification Overview:

Research shows that children decide whether they are good at math and other Science, Technology, and Engineering concepts by the time they are in 3rd grade. Research also shows that children must consider and be taught their accountability and responsibility to the natural environment. Camp TechTerra is currently a summer camp, inter-session, and after school care program in Durham, NC. Students aged 5-14 learn a range of topics from coding and robotics to nature and art to stop-motion animation all in the context of project based learning.

Use your personal mobile devices, optimized for teaching and learning; add our robots, drones, and 3D printers. We provide ime & focus on grant writing to fund your own program STEM tools.

Activities and lesson plans for Camp TechTerra include Earth Science; Life Science; Physical Science and Computer Science. Each core area has a focused lesson plan with hands-on exploration. Coding instruction centers on coding with a purpose. Focused lessons plans provide differentiated scaffold opportunities for building on understanding with collaboration.

Become Camp TechTerra Certified for your space and your time needs.

Finding Funds- Critical components of successful grantwriting

Do the work- plan your project, focus counts

Don’t forget local sources

My largest successful grant, over $100,000 came from the state. Started small $20,000…demonstrated success, returned for additional monies…

Research…keep looking on a regular basis

New grants are posted daily, mark your best sources and keep coming back…when you target search areas and keep returning you’ll find opportunity

Grant Source CategoriesClassroom Funding Examples:

DonorsChoose www.donorschoose.org

Adopt a Classroom www.adoptaclassroom.org

Community Funding Examples:

Brown Rudnick Community Grants www.brownrudnickcenter.com

CorningBrinker International Grants www.brinker.com

Larger Targeted Funding Example:

Corning Foundation Grants www.corningfoundation.org

What to include in your proposal…

Why is this critical? How will it change lives?

What’s your objective/outcome?

Make sure you can do what you said you would do

How will this provide maximum likely benefit?

Explain how you’ll determine sucess

Include your next steps…think bigger!

Success leads to more …success!

Today’s learners deserve…

Authentic opportunities to do meaningful work

Today’s tools to get real work done

Opportunies every day, throughout the day to work on personally engaging tasks

Space and resources to work collaboratively, think critically, create and play

Thank you!Susan S. Wells

Founder, Camp TechTerra

MLN PD Chair

Durham Public Schools- E.K. Powe Elementary

wellssusans@gmail.com

SusanSWells.com

CampTechTerra.com

@wellssusan