I would like to share our journey of discovery, my students and I. Our kids were just selected to be recipients of a Club bundle of 10 micro:bits. As a Newbie Grandma Coder orNGC, I will be discovering along with my beloved students, who are pretty special. They are tribal/indigenous children and youth that live on the Ngobe-Bugle reservation (or Comarca) of Panama. My husband and I (He is Panamanian, I am La Gringa) have lived in Panama for the past 5 years. I have had the honor of teaching (and being taught by) these children and teens for 5 years. We have an after-school program that meets in a public school "La Petita Santos". I would love for you to get to know this group. They are really great people. Kind, generous, joyful, brave, funny, protective and oh so smart. For them to have this opportunity to showcase what they are capable of, is an amazing blessing. One particular student, Moises, is especially special. He has projected himself into my heart to stay. He is a Deaf boy, age 9, incredibly smart, kind, inspiring, persevering through many tough days. After knowing him and teaching him for 4 years, I predict he will be able to learn this new tech. How he takes to it, is yet to be seen. I am sure he would like to try. We have already begun our coding and tech journey, Moises and I. Why are Deaf people and Coding/Stem/STEAM a perfect match? It has to do with receiving information visually and having a visual/kinaesthetic language. More about that later...
I will be receiving my micro:bits in 3 days. Currently, and providentially, I am in Florida, visiting from back home in Panama. Since they were shipped so quickly, (thanks Daniel), I will be able to bring them back with me. *Joy!* Receiving packages in Panama is complicated at best.. danzima
I don't know much about these little bits of awesomeness, but looking at what is available for teachers: videos, curriculum, research, projects... As a ngc (Newbie Grandma Coder, remember? ) I feel really comfortable with how accesible the information is. No intimidating techie jargon, which I am grateful for. And the amount of support resources, is designed, it seems, for teachers of all levels. Can't wait to get my hands on them! Even my sweet husband Danny, is intrigued. He is much further along on the coding journey than I am, and he often teases me with how much I don't know. I hope to enlist his help, along with several coding friends and family. Danny did some investigation of the Micro:bits, and is impressed so far.
I have so many ideas for potential projects, to reach as many students as possible, the biggest challenge will be narrowing it all down....
Here is my assignment for the next 10 weeks.
The documentation requirements will be the following:
1) Write up a blog (or do a video blog) about your project.
2) Your blog or vlog must have a syllabus/lesson plan that includes the following information:
• what ages and/or grade-level(s) it's aimed toward
• what subject/s does it cover
• what are the project goals
• step-by-step instructions including any print-outs, bill of materials (BOM)
• photos and/or videos
Join me on this journey! We have much to learn, much to do, and the deadline is December 3rd to complete my project and register for the next phase of the Great Micro:bit Give Away! I am very grateful for this opportunity!
the-natives-of-chiriqui-the-history-of-the-ngobe-bugle-tribe
https://blog.dell.com/en-us/deaf-kids-code-show-digital-age-great-equalizer/
https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/17/apple-everyone-can-code-accessibility-students-deaf-blind/
https://research.gallaudet.edu/Presentations/2004-04-07-2.pdf
https://www.educationalplaycare.com/blog/sign-language-benefits-for-young-children/
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