Comment Curriculum for DIY Tech class! (Score 1) 256
Let's face it: in that short amount of time, you're not going to be able to teach an entire class the skills they need to actually need to make DIY projects of any significance (electronics, programming, system design, etc.). You're an English teacher - take it into your ballpark!
I would lead your class in exploring their *creative* ideas about technology. That's where it all starts! In this modern world, if someone goes to school and/or lands the right job, they will have whole teams of technicians to work out the details. Being "creative" is a vital occupation in itself. Learning how to make the creation is secondary.
A curriculum I would propose is...
- List some ideas for technologies/devices/software/machines you think would be cool. (free-writing!) Discuss.
- Describe one in detail or draw a picture.
- List the skills you think you would need to actually design and build the one you have chosen. Teacher helps student fill in missing skills.
- Read some very introductory stuff on *each* of those skills.
- Build a model/write a story/create a presentation about your own technology.
If that doesn't take the whole time, break it into sections and have them repeat this process in each section for a new technology
OR
have them learn and report on each skill they need to learn about, one at a time.
More than anything, emphasize creativity, fun, discussion and research.
I love thinking about this stuff! Drop me a line at flash@earthling.net if you want to chat more.
You're class sounds awesome! I wish that had been around when I was in High School (though I did take a very open-ended Independent Study class in Comp. Sci. - there was just no mentorship...)
:)
~J
I would lead your class in exploring their *creative* ideas about technology. That's where it all starts! In this modern world, if someone goes to school and/or lands the right job, they will have whole teams of technicians to work out the details. Being "creative" is a vital occupation in itself. Learning how to make the creation is secondary.
A curriculum I would propose is...
- List some ideas for technologies/devices/software/machines you think would be cool. (free-writing!) Discuss.
- Describe one in detail or draw a picture.
- List the skills you think you would need to actually design and build the one you have chosen. Teacher helps student fill in missing skills.
- Read some very introductory stuff on *each* of those skills.
- Build a model/write a story/create a presentation about your own technology.
If that doesn't take the whole time, break it into sections and have them repeat this process in each section for a new technology
OR
have them learn and report on each skill they need to learn about, one at a time.
More than anything, emphasize creativity, fun, discussion and research.
I love thinking about this stuff! Drop me a line at flash@earthling.net if you want to chat more.
You're class sounds awesome! I wish that had been around when I was in High School (though I did take a very open-ended Independent Study class in Comp. Sci. - there was just no mentorship...)
~J
