6th graders build computers at Washington Middle School.
At Washington Middle School, sixth graders have been using tools, blueprints and determination to assemble their own computers.
The project was introduced during the second week of September. Principal Jody Vines said she hopes the project will inspire students to become the “creative young hackers of the future.”
“There are so many jobs that are going to be available for careers (in) technology. I think it’s important for our students to understand that they can accomplish that. They can do that if they want to,” science teacher Emily McDaniel said.
“Using a kit, students will build a wooden case and assemble a controller box, speakers, breadboards, switches, wires and more,” Vines said. “We hope to capture the attention of every students through a basic understanding of how a computer works. Through the use of the inexpensive Raspberry Pi device, we hope to provide our students with skills to build a computer at home and use open-source materials.”
Raspberry Pi is a microprocessor, or “the brains.” Students will learn coding and circuitry through a Minecraftbased program once the computers are completely assembled, Vines said.
STEM education company Piper, worked with the creators of Minecraft to develop kits educators use to teach basic engineering and computer science skills. Minecraft allows users to explore a 3D work, build a community and live off the land.
“A lot of them know what Minecraft is, but just that they can build it themselves is mind-blowing to them. It just creates so much interest and expectations for themselves,” McDaniel said.
Students work in pairs or groups to interpret blueprints that don’t have word-for-word instructions and the project is question-based and student-led, McDaniel said.
“We don’t give a lot of instruction … We try to get them to really try and think through it. A lot of times if someone asks me a question, I might take a second to get around the room first, but by the time I’ve gotten there, they’ve already figured it out on their own,” McDaniel said. “Sometimes they’re afraid to get it wrong and it just really encourages them to just try.”
She said teachers had to learn how to use the Piper computer kits students use in the classroom, working through them before introducing the project to the sixth graders.
"My students are picking it up faster than I did and that’s very impressive. I’m just letting them go with it,” science teacher Catherine Kozubski said.
Teachers use a rubric and grade students’ teamwork, organization,
comprehension and time management skills to informally assess them. Students also take vocabulary quizzes along the way, Kozubski said.
Technology facilitator Marsha Snell said that the project is in line with Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s #CSforAR initiative, which requires high schools to offer computer science in high school and expose K-12 students to coding.
“They’ll build on this as the go on in their academic careers. It’s an awesome place to jump off for them. Our principal is not afraid of the future and technology. She embraces it and our kids benefit from that,” Snell said.
Kozubski said that the objective of the project is to “instill creative confidence with electronics.” Students will also learn about electronics and problem solving, Vines said.
“They really enjoy it. They don’t want to leave my class. They want to stay in here,” Kozubski said. “They’re working on it for two weeks.”
Brittany Williams may be reached at 870-8626611 or bwilliams@eldoradonews.com. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook @ BWilliamsEDNT for updates on Union County school news.