West Point Bridge Designer 2010
Well I received a local code from West Point last week and so our competition can now take place. With it, and using the West Point Bridge Designer 2010 “free” software we can run a local/international free competition.
Who is the competition for – well my Reception(/Kindergarten) son can play the programme and create a working bridge, and my A-level(/Grade 12) students should be able to understand the engineering dynamics of tension/compression and the necessity of iterations.
I created a basic bridge – now the competition is on for my students to create a workable bridge for less – I wish them luck.
As a teacher I wish for two things; a) that students enjoy and learn from the experience, and b) they also realise that there is a gap (if only small in some cases) between that of an experienced teacher and their own – we can all learn through play, but age and previous experience are an important facet of life. I may not be invinsible, but to beat me my students will need skill and/or initiative to win that should be beyond their years (and is certainly beyond their curriculum)!
Notes:
West Point Bridge Designer 2010 can be downloaded here – it is a free PC only programme.
There is a US student prize competition though others int he world may participate in a non-prize competition.
For teachers ther e is the option to set up a local contest using a Local Code from West Point – well worth doing.
@nahowie for updates on how we’re doing
EPICT article online in Computers in Classrooms
I wrote an article for Terry Freedman to put into his extremely useful “Computers in Classrooms” online magazine (geared, but not exclusively, for leaders and managers of Educational ICT) a few months ago, about the European Pedagogical ICT Licence via yourWITS run by Peter Napthine over in Brazil via his Moodle site, which is geared towards teachers on the international circuit.
Terry put it online today, and thanks are due 
Worth doing as I point out, and Peter has the knowledge and experience to make sure all can benefit from it.
Follow via Twitter: @nahowie @terryfreedman
Educational value of “Zoo World” in Facebook
What amazing fun I’ve had with my son (Year 3/Grade 2 age) on Facebook via the Zoo World this weekend.
We have worked together on developing our business and economics skills in bringing a Zoo worth $0 to being worth $1.5M. Along the way we have worked through challenges (each steadily harder and longer), and spent time working our the various permutations as to what to do next. My son has also been improving his literacy and numercy skills as he had to tell me what the messages were, how much we’d made, how much we still had to make (and time it would take) to get another animal/staff/equipment etc. He’s also learnt a great deal about animals, as there are notes on the 80+ animals we have our zoo, and also in developing a systematic approach to sorting through ensuring that the same types of animals are in the same area of a zoo.
What an amazing game – and best of it is free!! Also as a father is was so good to see my son engrossed in his learning (without always appreciating the skills he was displaying) and I felt good in having spent so much quality time with him.
I can remember wanting to get the likes of Civilization into my school many years ago, but it a) just cost too much, and b) took too long to accomplish something worthwhile. Here the programme is free, and it’s simple, but in a sophisticated simple way. There are still enough permutations to ensure that those playing can enjoy the challenge, but also few enough so that you can see the success of your achievements.
My son appreciated at the end of the weekend how you don’t magically create a business – you have to work hard, juggle lots of possible options, and before you make those decisions go through all the options and select one you feel is right. Oh and if you like the topic (he likes animals) you get to learn some great facts too!
Well done RockYou!, I can see understand they recently received $50M in venture funding (article) – a very educationally appealing game for students from 6ish upwards (and as we’re all life-long learners which includes us all), and also to facebook.
ECIS conference – before the event
Well in a couple of days I’m off to Hamburg to listen to many words of wisdom at the European Council of Internaional Schools (ECIS) conference. Welll I hope there will be words of wisdom spoken there. Having been to many conferences one sometimes does, but not always learn things that are actually useful (as opposed to “good idea but…” useful) at these types of events.
What I’m looking for are things that are practically possible at my particular school, both in the administrative and the teqching side of the school. Day to day one can get so involved with what is going on that great, simple, ideas can pass one by. Hopefully by spending time at such an event as this and focussing in on lots of areas that others have already experienced one can improve the learning experience at one’s own school.
Given I’ve configured a Moodle site as a test (both of my ability, but also to try an be inventive/creative with what is being taught), I and the colleague who is going with me can discuss both the actual content and layout of the site.
And if an internet connection is available then perhaps I’ll even practice my twitter skills!!
Twitter for school
Read a great article in the November 2009 issue of International Schools Journal last week by Jeff Utrecht. I’ve always avoided using Twitter in the past but it got me thinking. Currently we send out SMSs to parents about events as an additional reminder to the letters they may (or may not) receive. Perhaps we could also use Twitter to both send out reminders of future events, but also of what is happening now. Given there is a privacy option that means followers can be approved it may work. Using modern ways.
So I’m also now @nahowie, and following the tweets many others but (trying to be careful whom I follow!)