After reading the survival story Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, students on 6East were faced with creating their own survival stories. Students were placed into groups and each group was assigned a different country to research using databases and materials in The Hub. After writing a script that included facts about the country and the items necessary for survival, they each collaborated with their peers and used their critical thinking skills and creativity to create a movie using iMovie software on what is necessary for survival in Fiji, Canada, Sudan, Brazil or Iceland. They were very excited to be the first ones to test out the new green screen in The Hub, and they all put a lot of effort into filming and editing their video. Once the movies were complete, 6E hosted a film festival on Friday, March 28, where the stars of each film walked down the “red carpet,” introduced what they learned and enjoyed the premiere of their film! --Miss Burke & Miss Menesale
Every year I get asked by parents to recommend a summer computer camp for their student. Since most require an early sign up in order to guarantee a spot during the summer I’ve compiled a list of interesting possibilities. Some of them are already filling up- make sure to get your kids enrolled ASAP!
eMagination Computer Camps Held at Bentley College in Waltham, these two-week sessions are filled with technology workshops on game design, programming, and digital art, as well as regular summer camp outdoor activities. The core of the camp is made up of 11-13 year olds, perfect for your middle school student. eMagination Minecraft Xtreme Teens ages 13-17 will learn to code and create Minecraft mods. This camp is for kids with some programming experience- “the curriculum is progressive so campers with more advanced programming knowledge spend more time expanding Java coding skills while making Minecraft mods. Less experienced campers focus on learning Java coding skills while making their mods.” iD Tech Camps “Develop a mobile app, learn to code in C++/Java/iOS, create a video game, mod in Minecraft, or make a movie. Imaginations soar as ages 7-17 transform interests into projects of their own. Beginner to advanced students collaborate with friends and develop problem-solving and technical skills, gaining confidence and a competitive advantage. Weeklong day and overnight STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) summer programs.” These camps are also held at Merrimack College, an easy commute for Andover residents. Harvard Digital Media Academy Harvard’s DMA Tech Camps offer teen campers (12-17) one-week summer courses, two-week summer academies and premium production studios (for ages 15-18). They have all kinds of courses, from Adventures in Film-Making and Special Effects, to Advanced Robotics with Lego, to Game Design for iPhone and iPod. Mass Academy of Math and Science: Computer Quest Computer Quest is a great camp for students to learn programming, publish their own web page using HTML, and create interactive art with computers. The camp is for incoming 7th and 8th graders only. Wood Hill eighth graders are creating their own math tutorial videos using screencasting software, Explain Everything, on iPads. Screencasting is a video screen capture often containing audio narrative and is a great way to integrate technology into the learning process. The students in Mrs. Kelly's 8E class are creating these videos as a way to demonstrate their math skills as well as creating tutorials for future students to learn these concepts. Watch some sample videos below and check out more on The Hub's screencasting page. |
catalogsAuthorMiss Menesale is Wood Hill Middle School's Digital Learning Specialist. symbalooArchives
September 2014
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