
February 17, 2018
My elementary learners are loving one of their most exciting STEM experiences ever, and I’m having a hard time dealing with it. It’s true. I’m pulling over for a pitstop to adjust my game plan. I need to reconfigure my setup.
I had envisioned exactly how I wanted this race to run. The pit crew and drivers, however, did not follow my plan. By the end of the first week, it felt like we were getting lapped, and time was running away with our chances to catch up.
The plan was to run ten races. Ten different teams would race four heats each, once in each of the four lanes. Then, teams would capture vocabulary-rich, post-race reflections in an app or website, carefully analyzing specific vehicle design features, or racing circumstances that affected their racecar’s performance.
But students had SO MUCH fun designing, constructing, testing, modifying, retesting, and endlessly repeating this cycle, that we usually didn’t get to the actual race, let alone the edtech part. Yet, the educator in me knew that this part of the process was priceless. Here’s a hands-on learning opportunity that many students would probably never get to do in their classrooms or at home. The show must go on.
With learning throttled so high in these pre-race, qualifying activities alone–No qualified educator would ever wave the yellow, red, or black flag here. In fact, I believe every educator would announce: “Students: Start. Your. Engines!” and never look back. You should have heard their conversations and seen (and heard) their excitement.
Don’t get me wrong–It was super loud, really messy, and seemingly unorganized.
Don’t get me wrong–It was authentic, exciting, and literally learner-driven.
They were having fun while learning the curriculum–A true challenge in our learning spaces today. And for philosophical reasons alone–It could not be stopped.
Good crew chief educators know when to call for a tuneup. Great educators know when they’re not the crew chief. Excellent leaders know how to balance the two.
Still, the edtech enthusiast in me was worried, screaming questions like:
- What do you mean NO technology today? Is that okay?
- Can you really afford to go two-three weeks without edtech?
If you don’t post examples of edtech every day, won’t you eventually lose the…
- Interest of your students?
- Interest of your parents?
- Respect of your colleagues and PLN?
- Chance to be seen by edtech vendors who might offer you a job someday?
- Opportunity to speak or present at the next edtech conference?
- Aspiring reputation as an expert, innovator, and edtech leader?
If you don’t post examples of edtech every day, won’t you eventually lose…
The #Edtech Race?
Okay, I’m just joking.
Kinda.
These disgustingly educator-centered thought patterns and processes are permeating our learning spaces like never before.
Let’s keep kids in the driver’s seat of their learning–with or without edtech.
And I DO love edtech. I love integrating edtech in learning experiences every day.
For the right reasons.
But even more than that–I love observing students:
- Owning their learning, organically;
- Driving their #4Cs learning processes to solve their problems; and
- Winning their learning race.
I’ll see you on the way to Victory Lane.
You can see these kids in the Winners Circle.
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Background Information: As a fifth grade math/science classroom teacher In 2008, I really wanted to create the pinewood derby car experience to match our North Carolina Science Essential Standards for fifth grade force, motion, and design unit. What could be better for students to learn about gravity, friction, inertia, momentum, acceleration, speed, velocity… than by making K’NEX cars and actually racing them?
What could be better than DOING learning?
After several failed attempts to borrow this kind of racetrack from local churches and Boy Scouts-like programs, I finally purchased hardware store materials and made my own racetrack, in eighteen hours straight, overnight, in the basement of a Raleigh townhouse. And the joy my heart has experienced by seeing how much students love using it has paid for the racetrack materials and labor a thousand times over.
Took it nice and slow in my latest project today. Super excited to see all K-5 #ddestem pit crew's experience #TheGreat5thGrRace this year! #sci1P11 #sci3P11 #sci5P11 #sci5P12 #sci5P14 #Hashtah180 #SwimFwd pic.twitter.com/BMCJ7eya8A
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 10, 2018
I had a big show planned, in which I'd be shouting directions to run the race I had envisioned–But they learned so much more when designing, testing, redesigning, retesting. It wasn't about me. This did not go as planned. It's okay to tweet that? #HamstraHighlights #ddestem #4Cs pic.twitter.com/yUwMxbxu08
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 13, 2018
"Mr. Hamstra, Can we test it out? Can we see if our car can make it thru the obstacles?" Oh… Yes! #ddestem #TheGreat5thGrRace #sciKP11 #sciKP12 #sci1P11 #mathKCC1 pic.twitter.com/CpWhqXI1W8
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 13, 2018
Design. Construct. Test. Exclaim: "That didn't work-Fix that-Try again!" Redesign. Reconstruct. Retest. Repeat x 20. They had so much fun doing #handsonlearning that many didn't get to all the #edtech enhancements. Yet. Is that okay? #ddestem #edchat #sci3P11 #TheGreat5thGrRace pic.twitter.com/r8sohMNYuq
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 14, 2018
Loved seeing these first graders take over their learning and hearing their conversations about gravity, forces, and friction. They always seem to race toward active, #handsonlearning opportunities. #TheGreat5thGrRace #sci1P11 #sci1P13 #ddestem pic.twitter.com/9QM672dEsF
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 13, 2018
Why did your car win? What made your car go so fast? This first grader volunteered to share her analysis! #ddestem #sci1P11 #sci1P13 #sci3P11 #sci5P11 #sci5P12 #TheGreat5thGrRace pic.twitter.com/cMM1g1mLLW
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 13, 2018
By FAR, the best part of #TheGreat5thGrRace has been observing Ss owning the process of: design, construct, test, redesign, retest–waaay bf the main event. Perhaps, it's in the garage area and with pit crews on pit road where the real learning happens. #ddestem #sci5P11 #sci5P12 pic.twitter.com/0hfFxuLd4v
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 12, 2018
First Grader: "Don't worry, Mr. Hamstra. It's just a speed bump. We can still make it down the track." #HamstraHighlights #sci1P11 #ddestem pic.twitter.com/14DXkmd8E1
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 15, 2018
Fifth graders accessed their #ddestem #Flipgrid videos to reconstruct their racecar prototype, before making modifications. #FlipgridFever soared higher each time they'd play, pause, and replay. The detailed archive is just the starting line @Flipgrid. #sci5P11 #TheGreat5thGrRace pic.twitter.com/WW1vdjh6yj
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 15, 2018
So proud! Fifth graders are right on track, #4Cs-eizing their #flipgrid archive to redesign, reconstruct, & retest #TheGreat5thGrRace-car. Exploring many different recording spaces shined light on varying surfaces, shadows, weather, & #FlipgridFever. #ddestem #sci5P11 #sci5P12 pic.twitter.com/F8sDrULAEi
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 6, 2018
You should hear these #4Cs convos! Fifth graders access their #ddestem #FlipgridFever archives to rebuild their first design. "We got it! Now, can we modify it to make it [even] faster for #TheGreat5thGrRace?" YES! #BecomeBetter #lifelonglearning #sci5P11 #sci5P12 #hashtag180 pic.twitter.com/BCkNkVy4nd
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 1, 2018
Before #TheGreat5thGrRace, Ss design, construct, test, analyze 3 features that give vehicle the winning edge, & predict how vehicle will perform next class. Using #flipgrid as pre-race archive will be invaluable evidence for post-race reflections. #FlipgridFever #sci5P11 #ddestem pic.twitter.com/JukNIVKfWU
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) January 24, 2018
Cool thing when you #hashtagwithpurpose, you can quickly find former tweets to help preview an upcoming learning experience or pose questions to drive inquiry. #hashtag180 #TheGreat5thGrRace #ddestem #sci5P11 #sci5P12 pic.twitter.com/9veH85w4PQ
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) January 24, 2018
Really, every starting line ends in a photo finish. Effective educators follow-thru, follow-up, and #FinishStrong! What do your photo finishes look like? The Grind Includes Friday. All day. Dig deep. Extend your reach. #HamstraHighlights #BecomeBetter #BecomeBetterDaily #ddestem pic.twitter.com/0y1xlbcNmF
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) February 16, 2018
Start. Your. Engines! Racing in to the New Year with one of our faves. It's #TheGreat5thGrRace! #sci5P11 #sci5P12 pic.twitter.com/JWOz3jV4U2
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) January 5, 2016