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E d Te ch S h o w D a i l y 4 3 W e d n e s d a y, J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 groups, scribbling angles and math for- mulas on the whiteboard, writing a story- board script for a video, and creating code on their iPad for a robot named Dash from Wonder Workshop™. There are occasional heated debates and shenanigans, but they are all laser focused on solving challenges in the Wonder League Robotics Competition. STEM education is top of mind as high-paying jobs in STEM fields are growing with not enough American stu- dents to fill them. Many efforts are directed towards secondary schools, but research shows that introducing STEM early plays a key role in cognitive devel- opment and interest in the subjects later on. Elementary school teachers are paving the way to look for meaningful ways to bring STEM to life in their class- rooms. Robotics in the Classroom In elementary school, students learn with their eyes and hands – drawing, molding and manipulating objects. They are start- ing the tough transition to learning by reading, and robots make it possible for them to work through problems visually and experiment with concepts they are learning. Dweck's students have designed mazes, produced geometric shapes, cal- culated perimeter, tested probability, composed music, recorded dialogue and even retraced the voyage of the Mayflower with Dash. "'Millennials' have been raised on technology," Dweck says. "They have no fear of it and are eager to jump right in and create. They are natural innovators who relish and need this creative platform." Many teach- Transfo rming STEM (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) ers who focus on inquiry-based learning try to integrate robotics into as many sub- ject areas as possible. Robotics Competitions Last year, over 1,000 teams coded in the first ever nationwide robotics competi- tion for elementary schools. The Wonder League Robotics Competition provides an in-depth and structured way to teach coding concepts while also educating the whole child. Students deeply engage in robotics and coding, work in teams and gain confidence and resilience. The competition missions tie back to real-world applications – in Fall 2016, the theme will be Saving the Environment. "I learned to always include all of my teammates because it isn't fair if nobody else gets a chance to do things and we can finish anything on time if we just work together," says one eight-year- old student on the Wonder Dash team that finished 3rd in the nation. "This opportunity helps students develop a respect for their own abilities. As students develop strategies to facili- tate the learning process, they experi- enced growth in their meta-cognitive skills, too. Introduction to coding and robotics is as relevant to our world as learning to write. Today's learner should experience opportunities to practice coding and robotics in the classroom from an early age. This foun- dation will serve them as learners, digi- tal citizens and world leaders," Dweck remarks. To get information on Wonder Workshop's next robotics competition, sign up at clubs.makewonder.com. Learn more at booth #404. physically attend school – without com- promising the quality of academic instruction and social experience. "The VGo is such an amazing piece of technology and we feel so fortunate to have been able to have had the use of it while Mark was unable to attend school during his recovery," said the parents of one New Jersey student who was hospi- tal-bound during treatment and recov- ery. It's one thing to receive 'get well' cards and letters from your classmates, but it is truly another experience to actu- ally be able to join your classmates while you are recovering from surgery at home." Because it's operated 100 percent by the student, the student feels empowered with his or her independence. One stu- dent, Cris Colaluca from Mohawk Pennsylvania, was unable to attend school from second to eighth grade due to a rare seizure disorder. However, four years ago, he began attending classes vir- tually using the VGo. Now a high school student, Cris has been inducted into the National Honor Society. The robot's cameras allow Cris to see the classroom on an iPad or com- puter and the teacher and classmates to see Cris on the robot's screen. Cris can roll down the hall to change classes and hang out with friends. He can manipu- late the camera to work with a partner on science experiments and other group projects. Success stories like Cris' are common. The VGo "can provide a sense of empowerment for students by virtue of their ability to do things previ- ously believed to be impossible," said V G o (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) Kari Tapie, who coordinates the Assistive Technology Program in L.A. Unified's Division of Special Education. A student can now access a full 36- hour week of schooling, including spe- cials, AP and honors and after school activities. For short-term absences, the VGo also gives students a smooth transition back to the classroom. For fifth grader Levi Whitcomb, the VGo offers a little normalcy while he undergoes treatment for cancer. "He wants to be here as much as possible and [the VGo] is allowing him to truly be a part of his class even though he cannot be in the building," his counselor Julie Person of Rollinsford, New Hampshire said. After seeing the benefits, many dis- tricts expand their VGo program. Pelican Elementary School, part of Lee County, the ninth largest school district in the country, began by providing a VGo to one second-grade student, Abby. Seeing the way in which the VGo impacted Abby's education, the school decided to expand its program to include five addi- tional robots. Aside from the social and academic advantages for the homebound student, VGo brings a unique lesson to all stu- dents. Aquebogue Elementary School principal Phil Kent notes that, "all the students in [the] classroom really benefit- ed. It's amazing how many friendships [our homebound student] Gabriel created in the classroom without [physically] spending one day in it." For more information, go to www.vecna.com or stop by booth #4200. understanding of access methods, cogni- tive needs and uniquely designed inter- faces for instruction in academics, com- munication, language development and social skills. Madalaine Pugliese has 40 years of experience in K-12 education, including 25 years in higher education, and is a nationally acknowledged consultant in technology integration. Madalaine has received international awards and recog- nition for her innovations, including: Apple Distinguished Educator by Apple Computer, Inc.; "Shaper of the Future" by Converge Magazine; and is a recipient of the Pathfinder Award from the Massachusetts Computer Using Educators. The Smithsonian Computerworld Honors Program recog- nized Madalaine's work with a Laureate Award twice. Pugliese explains Stages: "Stages began simply as I tried to answer ques- tions from teachers and parents who wanted to give their learners the best opportunities for success. Now it is a comprehensive effort, guiding learners, educators, therapists and families far beyond its original concept. The Stages Framework is designed to help educators, specialists, parents and caregivers best understand when and how to introduce technology with interfaces that meet stu- dents' unique needs. Stages provides the ability to complete assessments to accu- rately identify the tools and strategies to best meet the learner's needs in the learn- ing process." The Stages framework provides the following stages with assessment/instruc- Tech & A pps (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) tion: Stage 1 – Cause & Effect; Stage 2 – Language/Communication Readiness; Stage 3 – Emerging Language; Stage 4 – Early Concepts; Stage 5 – Advanced Concepts; Stage 6 – Early Learning; and Stage 7 – Written Expression/Learning. Pugliese explains what educators should consider when selecting technolo- gy and apps, saying, "Be as careful with selecting learning [apps] materials and strategies as we are with any other tech- nology. Don't forget feature matching when selecting appropriate content for skills practice. Mobility and cost effi- ciency deeply impacted how we consid- ered tools. In the beginning, we rapidly moved away from considering older technologies. However, because software has also been evolving rapidly, it is important to remember how powerful computers and software can be when considering learning tools. Computers didn't disappear and are still a significant installed base of equipment to leverage." Pugliese says, "Many learners will work at more than one Stage at a time depending on their unique abilities. Individuals with learning difficulties often demonstrate varying skill levels depending upon the content being addressed. Some may experience a delay in language, yet be able to work at an age-appropriate level in math or prob- lem-solving activities. Other learners may not speak at all, yet compose a writ- ten assignment with ease. Still others may be able to verbally describe a detailed story, yet have difficulty writing that story down on paper." Stop by booth #2948 to learn more or go to www.attainmentcompany.com/stages. Reliability The Zortrax M200 is incredibly reliable. This is a huge plus for printing projects with a deadline, and having the confi- dence that the products will come off the printer looking pristine. Those who own the Zortrax M200 report less than seven percent failed prints; so 93 percent reli- able, which is the highest reported figure compared to its competition. Print Quality The Zortrax M200 is delivering profes- sional-quality prints at 90 microns. Individual layers on finished prints are all but imperceptible, and the products look polished right off of the printer. 3D Hubs mentions that "one of our reviewers went as far as comparing the print quality as such: 'If my pickup lines were like Zortrax prints, I'd have fathered a thou- sand kids.'" Ease of Use The Zortrax machine is a closed-source machine, meaning it provides a con- trolled experience, but offers little in terms of customization. For those that 3 D P rinting (C o nt'd. fro m p. 2 4 ) prefer reliability and simplicity vs. exper- imentation and modification, look no fur- ther. The Zortrax M200 is simple to use, and works right out of the box. Support Zortrax S.A., headquartered in Poland, recently partnered with U.S.-based com- pany 3D Proshare in order to facilitate distribution and service in the U.S. mar- ket space. 3D Proshare provides fast shipping, warranty protection and techni- cal support for all Zortrax customers in the United States. This arrangement also shields customers from potential incon- veniences such as time-zone differences, customs fees and language barriers. Value/Cost Zortrax provides professional quality at an affordable price, starting at just $1,900. The majority of Zortrax owners, when asked which 3D printer they would consider next, would only purchase another Zortrax, with 98 percent of them offering a positive recommendation of the M200 to potential buyers. For more information, go to www.3dproshare.com.