https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLHTWwOBaoA&feature=youtu.be
Here is the video of my husband introducing the micro:bit to our group of Ngobe tribal students. Normally, they gather to play soccer. They all wanted to register. I noticed several of the 8-9 year old girls, really fascinated, as well. Hopefully, they will get their turn to code. I am sure they can. We will begin with this older group in December. We got the “go-ahead” to re-start our technology club with our beloved Ngobe girls at the girls home. We will have some boys there, as well, but the predominate group will be the group of up to 14 girls who live at the home. Some who have come from very hard and remote locations, never having slept with 4 walls, had electricity or running water until they moved into the group home so they can attend high school. Now they are all sisters, and really great people; each one a blessing to know. I am again very grateful to have this resource that, I believe, can positively impact their lives.
My deaf students and I will be working to develop a helpful tool to promote language learning. They love technology, and I can not wait to start working with them. As a former sign language interpreter, I am very interested in using the micro:bit to help in education and communication for the Deaf. Sign language makes a great tech interface language, because it is so conceptual and creative.
It is an unusually wet rainy season here in Panama, and the reservation is a dangerous place, most of the time, but in severe storms, the rivers swell, there are landslides. Recently another teacher and two more students were killed in our area trying to get to school. I was trying to get to the village school of Oma on Friday, but was helplessly stuck in my 4WD truck, and had to call for help. The school had been cancelled anyway because of the weather.
So, we have big plans for the micro:bits. They will travel to some remote places. Again, very grateful for the opportunity! I can’t wait for you to meet some of my students and future coders. :-)
