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EdTech Show Daily 2 1 Tuesday, February 7, 2017 HOW ROBOTICS TRANSFORMS STEM IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Julia Dweck's classroom in Macungie, Pennsylvania looks more like a pro- duction studio than your typical ele- mentary school. Students from differ- ent grade levels work together in small groups, scribbling angles and math formulas on the whiteboard, writing a storyboard script for a video and cre- ating 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. Ms. 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 inno- vators who relish and need this creative platform." Many teachers who focus on inquiry-based learning try to integrate robotics into as many subject areas as possi- ble. Robotics Competitions Last year, more than 1,000 teams coded in the first ever nationwide robotics competition for elementary schools. The Wonder League Robotics Competition provides an in-depth and structured way to teach coding con- cepts 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 any- thing on time if we just work together," says one eight-year- old student on the Wonder Dash team that finished third in the nation. "This opportunity helps students develop a respect for their own abilities. As students devel- op strategies to facilitate the learning process, they experienced 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 experi- ence opportunities to practice coding and robotics in the classroom from an early age. This foundation will serve them as learners, digital citizens and world leaders," Ms. Dweck remarks. Visit Wonder Workshop at booth #1948. For information on Wonder Workshop's next robotics competition, sign up at clubs.makewonder.com. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY FURNITURE FROM MARVEL Think stability. Think innovation. Marvel has been in the manufacturing business for more than 70 years, and all of its fur- niture is Made in America, never import- ed. It is never out of stock. Marvel offers Adjustable Height Student Desks, to make student/teacher interaction easier. Marvel Vizion ® includes Portable 3- D Printer Cart Makerspaces, Adjustable Height Teaching Stations, Compact Classroom Carts, Sit/Stand Mobile Workspaces and Mobile Teacher Carts designed especially for floating teachers. Marvel Vizion products have unique features simply not found in competitive products. Large adjustable height work surfaces, commercial furniture grade writing surfaces and sound options, I/R- friendly acrylic or security steel doors, no-tip bases and no-pinch adjustable shelves are a few of the features built in, creating multi-function, school-safe fur- niture. The products are engineered with rack or freestanding component areas, wire and cable management channels, strategically placed knock-outs, grom- mets and access panels for easy installa- tion. The Focus Desk Series Mobile Sit/Stand Desks that students can adjust with just one hand – no tools or electricity required. Models available for kindergarten through college students. Power Center Series Mobile Charge Carts, Charge Sync Carts or Deluxe Charge/Sync Carts with Firewire cables feature an extra large high pressure laminate top, 5-inch casters and a storage drawer. It is UL Tip Tested and safe for your class- room. Assembled Many Marvel products arrive completely assembled, ready to use or require mini- mal assembly at your facility, saving time and money. Furniture Grade Quality and Durability The Marvel Focus Desk and Marvel Vizion products feature the same high pressure laminate tops and heavy duty steel construction that it provides in its commercial furniture lines. Many Marvel products carry a Lifetime Warranty. Safety – UL Listed Marvel has just been recognized by United Laboratories as a 20 year certified member of the ISO program and is cur- rently ISO 9001:2008 certified by ULDQS Inc, the most difficult accredita- tion, the most difficult standard to attain and retain. All Marvel product passes and is listed for the appropriate UL Standard. GREENGUARD Certified The Marvel Group, Inc. is proud of its ongoing commit- ment to responsible environ- mental policies and manufac- turing processes. Safeguarding the earth's vital resources through conservation, technology appli- cation and progressive emission controls is a responsibility embodied in its manu- facturing, sourcing and marketing prac- tices. These efforts and a corporate cul- ture of responsible stewardship give its associates and customers the reassurance they demand in partnering with an envi- ronmentally responsible company. Do you need help with your floorplan? Marvel's Interior Design and Space Planning Experts will help you make the best choices for your classroom. Visit Marvel at booth #107. Go to www.marvelvizion.com to view the entire line of Marvel Vizion products, and go to www.marvelgroup.com for Marvel's Full Office Product line. The Focus Desk line can be seen at www.marvelfocusdesk.com. ELMO BREAKING INTO CLASSROOM COLLABORATION ELMO is introducing its new HuddleSpace Collaboration Hub. Live demos and giveaways can be found at ELMO booth #1435. The HuddleSpace Collaboration Hub is a simple to use and easy to implement device that facilitates the collaboration process in such a way that all students in the group are active participants. The ELMO HuddleSpace Collaboration Hub is a perfect solution for 1:1 and BYOD classrooms. It's a simple eight HDMI input connection source equipped with video and audio recording, allowing you to connect any HDMI compatible device. The HuddleSpace comes in three different models: the HuddleSpace G1, the HuddleSpace G2 and the HuddleSpace G3. Each model can also be paired with a battery attachment for extra portability. It is also compatible with third party HDMI wireless transmitters to make your HuddleSpace completely portable. ELMO Introduces MX-1 Visual Presenter The new MX-1 Visual Presenter from ELMO is a true 4K document camera. The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port allows for full HD video at up to 60 fps; there is no more delay of movement under the camera. For more output options, pair your MX-1 with the optional Connect Box. The Connect Box adds connectivi- ty options for HDMI and RGB based displays. MX-1 Visual Presenter features include: True 4K – The MX-1 is the first true 4K document camera on the mar- ket. Along with a specially crafted lens, the MX-1 will give you top qual- ity 4K image at up to 30 fps. USB 3.0 – In order to simplify the camera, the MX-1 is powered via Super Speed USB 3.0. The Super Speed USB 3.0 port allows for viewing of full HD video at up to 60 fps or true 4K video at up to 30 fps. Experience real time video with no delay of objects under the camera. Thinnest – At only 0.7 inches thick, the MX-1 Visual Presenter is the thinnest visual presenter. Weighing in at only 1.04 pounds, the MX-1 is completely portable and easy to transport. Take it with you and present anywhere. Flexible – The MX-1 is designed to twist, bend and fold in every which way, making the MX-1 the most flexible doc- ument camera in the ELMO line up. The MX-1 can fold up smaller than an enve- lope for easy transportation. Connect Box – Pair your MX-1 with the ELMO Connect Box. The Connect Box gives you an HDMI and RGB output for more versatility with your camera. Visit ELMO at booth #1435. For more information, go to www.elmousa.com.