Technology Demo
To the left is a "tech demo," a video I created on code-a-pillars and how to use hands-on instruction with technology to teach students measuring. As an educator, I firmly believe that making an activity hands-on and interactive gets students more engaged and makes abstract concepts more concrete. This assignment taught me how technology can positively motivate students and create an opportunity for hands-on learning in the classroom.
Marshmallow-Toothpick Towers
Attached are photos from my latest hands-on science lesson, where students were challenged to work in groups to create a building only using marshmallows and toothpicks to build a tower that would withstand an "earthquake." In this lesson, students engaged in the engineering design process by building marshmallow-and-toothpick towers aligned to the NGSS ETS1-2, which asks students to
generate and compare solutions based on criteria. Working in small groups, they constructed an initial
plan, constructed their tower, and then created an earthquake simulation by using a book rocking back
and forth. As they built, students identified weaknesses, revised their designs, and applied problem-solving skills to improve structure. The lesson concluded with groups comparing their towers, discussing
which design features supported stability, and reflecting on how well their final structure met the criteria. The students truly impressed me by how well they did at identifying what makes a great building.
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