Ideas for Maker Spaces and MakerED-Electronics-1-Xmas Tree

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Do YOU want to introduce Maker-ED in YOUR classroom?

Click image please to enlarge.

There is a BIG trend in Education worldwide; THE <===> Maker-Movement <===> and everybody is asking themselves on the How-To to follow and WHAT to do with the kids and at which age to start! Well, actually it isn’t that difficult as most think 😉 YOU can START it even in the classroom without having a “MakerSpace“, for the beginning! START with easy and low budget stuff; Xmas is close (I write this blog post on 22-11-2016), so WE will create a Xmas project as low as for +/- 5-6 € (6 US $).

A bit theory before WE start with the PracTICE 😉 If YOU don’t want to read it and GO straight on for the PracTICE, check below!

BUT, let us first start to learn more about “Maker“, “Maker-ED” and “Makerspaces“, please check my blog posts below:

•  Maker Space | A New Trend In Education And A BIG Responsibility

• Luxembourg EDUcation-Interviews | 5) Creativity and Maker-Spaces | BEECREATIVE

• Luxembourg EDUcation-Interviews | Creativity and Maker-Spaces | maach3 LTEttelbruck

• My curation about Maker, MakerED, MakerSpaces:
  • Ideas for MakerSpaces
  • …

ALL about that BIG trend is actually about <===> Creativity <===> and through tinkering <===> Learning-By-Doing <===> the kids, adults and seniors will find and develop THEIR creativity! And YOU <===> EDUcators, TEACHers <===> will guide THEM as a coach through the learning process 😉 YOU will learn YOURSELVES also from the sparkling creativity of your learners and together as a team YOU will GROW! Creativity is NO magic, it just needs to GET started!

Learn more:

• My curation about Creativity
• My curation about Sir Ken ROBINSON
• …

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As I treat myself as I would treat my students, learners by doing (creating) a project, WE will discuss my different tries as well <===> Learning-By-Doing <===> mixed together with <===> Critical-Thinking and Proactive-Thinking <===> Sounds strange, isn’t it? 😉

Learn more:

• My curation about Critical Thinking
• My curation about Proactive Thinking
• …

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THE planning

First comes the idea and the Deep-Thinking about it… THEN as the idea concept is made (in the brain and/or on cold print), WE need to find a store from where we can get the stuff. Make you a list of your local “Tinkering stores” and “Electronic Stores” and visit them also to find out WHAT they have in stock, take some catalogs (if present…) and probably YOU will get NEW ideas for next projects as well… DON’T forget to plan your journey for your purchasing; especially when the stores are in the city (searching for a parking, heavy traffic, etc.). FYI: I needed 40 minutes in the morning at 11:00 h to find a parking place!

SO, for my country Luxembourg, here below the addresses:

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Wooden 3D Xmas Tree (see PIC to get other ideas as well…)

• Bastelkiste
• Bastelkiste on Facebook
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Price as on 22-11-2016: 1,49 € (Set of two trees)

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.Copper Wire LEDs (NOT flashing)

• Bâtiself
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Price as on 22-11-2016: 2,79 €

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For Germany (Deutschland):

You could find similar products here:

• HORNBACH
• …

 

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THE PracTICE, let’s start

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First unpack all the bought stuff and check for the How-To to assemble it. As you can see in left-hand side image the trees (there are two in the package) are made from thin wood and are NOT painted. WE have now two different possibilities: spraying the trees with a green spray (must be done outdoor or close to an open place to outdoor because of toxic gases! Some persons could also be allergic to the gazes…) or let the kids, students, learners paint them by themselves.

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Please check below the different steps. Click on the images to enlarge them…

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Unpacked and assembled; under a minute.	2. Wiring the Xmas Tree with the Copper Wire LEDS	3. Green Spray (what I had still in my stock)
4. Painted (with spray) Xmas Tree parts	5. Assembling the 3D Xmas Tree	6. 3D Xmas Tree assembled
7. Wired (from the top to the bottom) 3D Xmas Tree	8. Wired (from the bottom to the top) 3D Xmas Tree	9. Other ideas…

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Once the Xmas tree assembled take the “Copper Wire LEDS (10 LEDS)” and wire them around the 3D Xmas Tree and switch it on to see the result. please check photos 7 and 8.

I tried out two different ways: wiring the “Copper Wire LEDS” from the top to the bottom (8 LEDS were visible) and from the bottom up to the top (6 LEDS were visible. Check the above images (7 and 8), please, to see the results. THIS way of tinkering around doesn’t need any tools and could get used in any classroom up from early age under coaching of  Educators, Teachers.

You might also want to glue the wires to the Xmas Tree, possible also… Other possibilities are to drill in holes in the tree and to pass the wire through it. Experiment a bit with it and try to find different solutions, for that cheap price! <===> Color of Xmas Tree: with spray and/or painting by students, learners, kids <===> creativity <===> LET it GO, LET it FLOW!

Try out different ways and let me know by sending me photos in with your creations which I will add then to my blog post with referencing YOU!

For more ideas about Xmas projects, check below please:

• Velleman Xmas Kits
• …

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I am trying to give You the THINKing behind a project (Which EVER one…) LEARNing-By-Doing, should GET done with Students, LEARNers THAT way; let THEM try out till THEY find the appropriate solution. Let THEM create a blog post about it where THEY can report about THEIR adventures and HOW THEY solved the problem for BEST… Of course with photos and with the written experience; #CriticalTHINKing and #ProactiveTHINKing will emerge As well as #PracTICE of course… As a Coach You observe and guide THEM with “Couldn’t THERE be ANOTHER way to realize it?”; Make THEM curios about to challenge THEMSELVES for BETTER   Have FUN! Look at following keywords to find out about what you should think about and what this sort of creation will result in. . Keywords: creativity, motivation, self-learning,  autodidact, critical thinking, proactive thinking (learning from fails for the future…), engaging, competences, PracTICE skills, learning-By-Doing, learning to learn, problem solving , organization skills, team work, coaching, fun, gift from kids to parents for Xmas, feeling proud about having created something itself, self-esteem… .

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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