We use BeeBots to
Our MakerSpaces are setup to foster the development of hands-on projects to support curriculum, teaching and learning in all curricular areas. Through LAUNCH students can design and tinker with ideas to solve problems or to learn about a process.
Construction – cardboard, wood, paper, fabric etc
Tools – building
Playdough
Lego
3D printing
Cricut Design
Arts – paint – sculpture
Linc-ed student/class learning evidence
Foodtastic (cooking, organisation, money, etc.) – Kahu, Tanya
Kotuku Cooking – Silva, Tracey
Kitchen Science – Sepa
Recycling bins,
Technology (STEAM) – cafe frontage
Garden to Plate
We are fortunate to have a purpose built Green Room space for film making and this room has developed to be a hub for visual arts. It is our intention to develop film and video making to provide our students with the skills for truly exceptional practice in this area. Currently the room is used to film the current events show called ‘What’s News?’ as well as having music and performance Art. Students use this room when writing or filming things for their Blogs as well as evidence of their learning journey
The purpose of this space is varied and like all areas of our school, can be used in multiple ways. Firstly, this area is an additional workspace or meeting space. Furniture can be pushed back and this area can house quite a large number of children. For adults, the space can be a meeting area, where meetings can be held while the students carry on their learning, or an out of hours venue for groups of teachers to discuss things.
The space also allows our students to interact with a range of material that exposes them to ‘old’ tech as well as building and engineering things in the form of play. The school formed a relationship with the Auckland Council Inorganic Collection and they saved interesting things that they thought the kids would like.
This area is nice and central for students to come and get in touch with who they are and relax. There is lots of stuff to interact with and a place with a positive vibe for students. Student wellbeing is the aim with students in small groups getting support and care about their feelings. It is also a place to create music and a lunchtime retreat for some.
Access to science equipment – also resources in the teacher resources room under stairs in the art area.
Coding
Our coding curriculum begins with Beebot, Lightbot and Scratch Jr. Students learn to then combine Scratch programming with Makey Makey.
Our older students choose from Minecraft, code.org, microbit and Swift Playgrounds. It is a rich and diverse offering and one that helps build a solid foundation. Our students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively.
Coding/ Apple Distinguished Teacher
Robotics
Robotics program. Our youngest students begin learning robotics through programming Beebot and Edison. They learn to create using the draw feature of Sphero. Makeblock is also used to develop computational concepts and used creatively in learning. Sphero is used throughout all ages and is adapted to suit the needs of the learners. Vex
Our students and staff learn that failure is expected and it is only by an iterative process that they will build and program successfully.
Vector Epro8 Challenge https://www.vectorepro8.co.nz
We have 4 teams from year 5-8 entered in this year’s challenges.
The Vector EPro8 is a competition, an engineering and problem solving race. Every year over 9000 students from 850 schools from throughout New Zealand take part.
Teams compete to:
The LAUNCH cycle is a framework for Inquiry into anything you want to learn or achieve.
Design thinking begins with the premise of tapping into student curiosity and allowing them to create, test and re-create until they eventually ship what they made to a real audience (sometimes global but often local). Design thinking isn’t a subject or a topic or a class. It’s more a way of solving problems that encourages risk-taking and creativity.
“The Gardens School endeavours to be outstanding and Apple technology has served us admirably as our platform for developing innovative learning opportunities for students and staff.
Staff collaborate with students and one another to make thinking visible and to document the processes of learning and reflection. The Year 5/8 BYOiPad program means that students learn to capture and demonstrate their understanding through multiple creative pathways. Various methods of reflective practice, including self digital reflection journals, blog writing, and peer reflections help teachers assess student thinking and growth.
The one-to one iPad program in Year 4 gives these students the opportunity to develop the necessary skills needed to navigate the digital world safely. They can begin to share with a wider audience and begin to influence others through creation of content to demonstrate their learning.
The one to two iPad program in Year 0-3 develops use of the iPad as a tool to create and learn with while developing strong literacy and numeracy skills.
