notes from the tech lab
Projects
Tech-related projects.
Mesopotamia Illuminated
Aug 18th
8th grade Integrated Human Sciences students decided to share their understanding of Mesopotamia through a massive collaborative project. Students worked with teachers Rebecca and Sarah to research, organize, delegate, and proof a 260-slide presentation. The result is phenomenal:
Independent Project Spotlight: Jake
Jul 31st
Recent graduate Jake made a short film about one of his independent projects from DigiArts. Students Noah and Lexi assisted with the filming.
Jake blended low-tech objects (M&M container, string, rings) and high-tech (i-Pod, scavenged speaker) to create the illusion. His magic left viewers speechless:
Project spotlight: Noah & Digital Arts
Jun 3rd
8th grade student Noah, one of the co-founders of the Billings Digital Arts program, just completed a circuit-bending project using a Speak & Math. He used Reed Ghazala’s book as a reference and did some of the work at local create:space Metrix. Check out the video he posted:
Bike to School 2010
May 21st
Imagine combining a series of simple machines (lever, wheel & axle, screw, plane) that would allow you to travel faster than a human can run with less effort involved. And what if this new technology had close to no impact on the environment once it is built?
Well, the future is here! 13 students (13%) and 5 faculty/staff (17%) participated in Bike to School day today – flexing their understanding of technology and their muscles to brave the weather and power themselves to school.
Thanks to everyone who participated this year, and to the Cascade Bicycle Club and Gregg’s Greenlake cycle for the organization efforts.
Digital Arts updates
Apr 30th
The tech lab is the place to be on Monday and Wednesdays afternoons. 2 weeks into DigiArts, students are knee-deep in a variety of excellent projects:
- Jake successfully installed Linux on a donated computer and also harvested motors from a DVD/VCR combo unit.
- Alex is trying to change the infrared filter on an old video camera to capture a light spectrum invisible to the human eye.
- Ella and Cillian have got the Arduino boards communicating with a couple of lab computers, and are writing basic programs (so far just output but soon we’ll tackle input as well).
- Rachel, Torri, Remy, Charlie and Griffyn are working on 3 different screenplays and will begin filming next week.
- Noah completed his first hand-coded website. Click here to view his iPad review and then click here to learn more about it.
- Lexi is recording a reharmonization of a Miley Cyrus song.
- Mike dismantled a laptop and is ordering a couple of kits from the MakerShed.
- Elijah has been working with a mixing board for turntables and an old Yamaha keyboard.
Art: showing vs. telling
Apr 26th
When Annie, the Billings visual arts teacher, wants to get students excited about a new journaling elective, she uses Google’s online Presentation tool to show instead of just tell. The idea worked – the class is full and students are excited!
Digital Arts class launches next week
Apr 14th
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Spring is a time for flowers, sunshine, developer conferences and DigiArts!
DigiArts is a time to explore programming and tinkering. We might take apart a broken scanner. We might build a game in StarLogo TNG. We might make a stop-motion film.
Class time will be divided between direct instruction/presentations and free exploration. There may be a couple of field trips that will extend the school day until 4:30pm.
To get a sense of the offering, check out last year’s DigiArts blog, created by 8 students from the 7th and 8th grade.
- Students will plan specific projects and work independently towards completion with regular teacher check-ins.
- Students are responsible for regularly documenting progress on the 2010 Digital Arts blog, with writing, photos and/or video.
- Students are expected to share their work with classmates and the school community.
- We will not be playing with alternating currents, messing with networks or other people (but Rick-rolling is okay).
Because this class is limited to 10 students, you are required to apply. Interested students should send Jac answers to the following (complete sentences where appropriate):
1. Why do you want to be in this class?
2. What are some project ideas you might be interested in working on?
3. With great power comes great _________________.
4. AYBABTU – explain.
Independent Project Spotlight: Jamal
Apr 13th
In conjunction with a month-long language arts identity writing project, 7th grade students have chosen independent creative projects to support their words. These projects have taken on a variety of forms, all sharing personal experience through vision, sound or touch.
Jamal taught himself to use Garageband to create an original rap about his life and how it has shaped his identity. Judge the results for yourself:
Independent Project Spotlight: Kelly
Mar 25th
Kelly just taught herself to use Pivot, a free stick-figure animator. Enjoy her first extended project, “The Fall.”
Independent Project Spotlight: Thomas
Mar 19th
6th grade student Thomas recently finished an interactive animation using Scratch, a free application that introduces programming. Use the space bar to begin and the arrow keys to interact with this cool creation:
