Using hands-on creative crafts to help students either deepen their understanding of a concept or showcase their learning is an excellent way to get students engaged in any content area. An exciting way to incorporate both crafts and technology into a lesson is to use the tool Chibitronics. Chibritonics is a circuit tool that allows students to attach lights via battery powered LED lights and copper tape.
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| Source: Chibitronics.com |
There are many ways to incorporate this exciting tool into a craft, whether it is to tell a story or explain a concept. For the English Langue Arts classroom, this tool can be used to create visual stories or storyboards that incorporate lights, or create an accordion book with notes or other visuals to help with learning. This STEAM tool adds interest to basic craft activities while also teaching students how circuits work. The blog Tinkering Child offers tons of technology projects and tools to use in the classroom. The author of the blog, Jackie Child, used the Chibritonics with her students as a social studies/geography project, as shown in the blog post "STEM Ideas for Years 3 & 4." The students created drawings of a geological area and used the circuits to light up different parts.
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| Source: TinkeringChild.com |
Technology and STEAM activities are an increasingly important component of the classroom, and the library is an excellent place to try out integrating technology into a lesson. The collaborative relationship between teachers and librarians is one of the most important in terms of effectively integrating technology practices into the curriculum (Johnston, 2014, p. 14). The Chibitronics activity is a simple but fun piece of technology to use in a library or classroom lesson that does not require a steep learning curve or a big price tag. It is a great way to take what students are working on in the classroom and add a STEAM element that can be completed in the library. This tool is a way to show students and teachers a simple way to think about technology outside of devices like computers or smartphones. A hands-on activity like Chibitronics brings technology to life while also letting students use their imagination. Starting with a simple technology like this is a way for students to engage with tech outside of a screen and help them be curious about how technology works. In the English Language Arts classroom, this tool can enhance students' interest in storytelling and make their stories more dynamic. The lights add dimension to their work and trying to figure our how to incorporate the lights into a project could be an opportunity for students to get more creative with their stories. Chibitronics could be used in any display, presentation, art projects, or crafts created by students to enhance their learning. References:
Chibitronics. (n.d.). STEAM learning with Chibitronics. https://chibitronics.com/education/
Child, J. (2021, July 15). STEM ideas for Years 3 & 4. Tinkering Child. http://tinkeringchild.com/stem-ideas-for-years-3-4/
Johnston, M. P. (2012, April 19). School librarians as technology integration leaders: Enablers and barriers to leadership enactment. School Library Research, 15, 1-33. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ978840.pdf
This sounds like a great resource. STEAM is something that many kids are starting to take an interest in. This is really great for students who have a hard time getting their stories out. I can imagine the possibilities once they realize they get to use some sort of technology and stem elements to brighten up their stories. I am always amazed at some of the creations students come up with when incorporating STEM. As long as teachers are willing to step out their comfort zone to collaborate with the librarian for this then I can see this being a success.
ReplyDeleteI love how this idea encorporates technology, STEAM and can be used in a variety of classes and curriculums. I can see students really enjoying the hands on nature of the idea and bringing more enthusiasm to their projects as a result. I like the reminder that tech doesn't always mean a screen, but can often be hands on. Thank you for the idea and blog resource!
ReplyDeleteThis would be so cute! I can even see the older high school kids wanting to use this for their notes to highlight important concepts. And having them having something hands on and maybe having to explain why they choose to use it where they did, is a great way to engage students in a lesson. Thanks for the information. Caroline Hoppe
ReplyDeleteAs an English teacher, it's hard for me to think about ways to incorporate math and science into lessons. I think it's really awesome that you found a STEAM based tool and explained how it can be used for science, history, and language arts lessons. I also appreciate that you mention it can be simple to use and less expensive that other alternatives. I think some people in education, myself included, equate STEAM/STEM with large budgets - it's refreshing to discover a resource that is accessible, usable, and achievable. Thanks for the post!
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