About Technology Education

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So, Tech Ed needs to be about so much more than "just using computers".  Why not follow the PRIDE problem solving model?

Lately, there has also been the incorporation of "Life Cycle Analysis" into this equation.  The acronym doesn't work so well, but it's still important to think about the natural resources we use and then discard!  Let's encourage students to think about the Story of Stuff.

About Technology and Students

Information and communication technology is about so much more than Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  Here are a few ideas to whet the appetite:

Programming

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Starting with something like "Scratch", students can dive right into fun programming challenges.

If you were around for the olden days of programming, the new stuff is awesome!  With Scratch, there's no need to learn semantics, fight with spelling or wait for a compiler to generate our code!

My workshop on Scratch
My 2011 Scratch curriculum (for Scratch 1.4)

3D CAD (Computer Aided Design)

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Wow, that sure sounds complicated, right?  WRONG!!!  With the latest tools, 3D CAD is now being brought to students of all ages.  I've taught Google Sketchup (free!) to 7th graders.


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I've also taught a 3D package called SolidWorks to 9th & 10th graders.   
(FYI: SolidWorks is more for mechanical engineering while Sketchup is directed more at architecture.)

So, if you've been caught with 2D line drawings (in AutoCAD LT) then I encourage you to revitalize your teaching with these tools. 

And when you've finished the design on the computer, then don't just hand in the printed drawings, go build those models!!

Graphics

Ever wonder how to teach graphics without forking over thousands of dollars?  Here are my two favourites:

   

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The GIMP 
(raster graphics - pixels)

Awesome and powerful editor that (imho) does everything Photoshop can do.

My GIMP curriculum (Raster Graphics)

  

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Inkscape 
(vector graphics - lines)

Think "slimmed down Adobe Illustrator".  Awesome, simple, effective, and the best built-in tutorials of any software I've ever used.

My student's first inkscape activity is here.

My full Inkscape curriculum (Vector Graphics)

About Graham Rich

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Father, husband, 
technology teacher.
Contact Mr. Rich

Graham was a teacher on a "D" contract (1 year) at Hartland Community School.  His courses are listed here.

In 2013-2014, Graham taught for periods of time in Hartland, due to 2 teachers' unfortunate events. In the spring of 2013, he completed a "D" contract (1 semester) at Fredericton High School.

Graham's degrees:
- B.Ed. (Technology Education and English) 
    from Acadia University (2003-2005)
- B.Sc. (Computing Science) 
    from Simon Fraser University (1993-1998)

The province of New Brunswick recognizes Graham's teachable subjects as: 
- Information Technology
- Technology Education (Woodworking)
- Math
- English 

Graham began his teaching career in 2005 at Oxford Regional High School, Oxford, Nova Scotia. (This school was replaced with Oxford Regional Education Centre in January 2010). For the next 5 years in this small rural school, Graham primarily taught Information Technology 7-12.

Graham moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick in June 2010.  After supply teaching, Graham landed a "D" contract (1 semester) at FHS teaching:
- Broad Based Technology 9
- Introduction to Applied Technology 10 (Wood)

Latest Purchase:
- Raspberry Pi (bought here)
Favourite Software Tool:
- Scratch (from MIT)
Favourite Software Language:
- Python

Latest Projects

In February 2011, Graham put his Scratch curriculum up on YouTube.  Now that Scratch has released version 2 (online and offline), Graham has remade those videos to match the new user interface (because all the buttons were moved around).

Graham had intended to make a number of video series, but these are on hold due to his new course load at HCS.  In a perfect world, Graham would make a video series for:
  • Advanced Scratch
  • AppInventor (for Google Android)
  • Raspberry Pi (computer + electronics)


The Raspberry Pi comes with a variety of sensors and gadgets which all interface with the Python programming language!

Into the Future

Some teachers and administrators have started to ask, "What's next?"

After you've completed Scratch (or Vizwik, or both), then maybe you think you're ready for text-based coding!

Why not try PYTHON!

To be more specific, here's one possible path:
  1. Scratch
  2. Vizwik or AppInventor
  3. Python (basic use with IDLE)
  4. Raspberry Pi (using electronics and Python)
  5. Web (HTML, CSS, Javascript)
  6. Web Scripting (with Python or PHP)
  7. Blender (3D animation)
  8. Blender Game Design (with Python)

You'll notice that none of my above suggestions included traditional programming.  If you'd like to include C++ or Java, go right ahead!

Why recommend using Python so much?
Because it's easier to train teachers and students with one multi-purpose language and then let them both astound you!
Later, when you need a specific purpose language, then you've already learned enough to dive right in!

What has been proven by others?

Here's a link to the USA's organization for Computer Science in schools.

Here's a YouTube video of one school explaining their curriculum.  (Long but awesome ideas!)

What's next?

To be honest, I don't know where the Information Technology curriculum in New Brunswick will be going next.  But I sure hope to find out!

If you want to talk to me more, just Contact me!