The video below demonstrates some of the different tools that we use to teach coding, robotics, and computational thinking here at Hamlin:
To learn more about our work see our Scope & Sequence here.
Coding & Robotics @ Hamlin
Leave a reply
Author Archives: picketts@hamlin.org
Grade 1 Community PBL Unit
There is so much I love about this unit. It has happened each year I have been at Hamlin, but as it is exemplary student-centered learning in action – it’s as different every year as the students who make the learning happen.
This year Rachel Davis did an incredible job in documenting the work and reflections of the Grade 1 students and their teachers, enjoy –
Thanks to all the teachers that came together and designed this learning experience!
Project Based PD: Designing A Mini-Golf Course in 2nd Grade
Under the leadership of Mark Picketts, Hamlin’s Director of Program Innovation and Professional Development, teachers have been exploring and learning this year through inquiry projects that they personally design. As action researchers, teachers use data, research, and reflection to investigate, modify, and improve their teaching practice. All teachers who participate in the Inquiry Project Year will share their findings with their colleagues at a year-end celebration of learning.
As part of her inquiry year, physical education teacher Terry McDonald created a dynamic project that allowed 2nd graders to design their own miniature golf courses. With the help of funds from Hamlin’s Raise the Paddle, Ms. McDonald was able to purchase mini-golf starter kits, she then partnered with Urban Putt in San Francisco so students could conduct research at their facility, while playing a round. The golf project integrated disciplines, combining technology, student-made video tutorials, tracking the design process via their iPads, while incorporating the geometric angles of math, all within the context of sport. Through the project, students were able to learn about golf, golf etiquette, while collaborating to make their courses as challenging as possible.
Watch this amazing integration project with second graders documented as part of Hamlin’s Project Based Professional Development program:
(link for internal users only)
Lower School PBL and Tech Integration …
Project Based Learning pedagogy states that the project is focused on real world problems and that important knowledge, concepts, and skills are taught within the project. Here at Hamlin girls integrate their learning of technology to support solving problems.
In these clips see how lower school girls use technology to interview community members, create podcasts, use green screens in their newscasts, and sharing their work with the entire lower school:
These girls are working hard to develop a comprehensive set of skills to meet the challenges of their increasingly digital times!
We are thankful to integrator Ms. Davis for the creativity she brings to work every day.
Middle School Students Enhance Learning Through Creative Technology Use
See how Hamlin Middle School Students are using technology to show how they are creating art, making ebooks on different biomes, speaking in Spanish to students in other countries and coding to create new apps:
Always reflecting and revising our work we are preparing students who use technology not solely to consume information but also to create. These girls will have the skills to meet the challenges of their increasingly digital times!
We are thankful to integrator Ms. Davis for the creativity she brings to work every day.
Project-Based Professional Development
This year we are experimenting with a modified faculty evaluation model; it is “project-based PD*” or a year of in-depth inquiry for experienced faculty. During the Inquiry Project Year, Hamlin teachers will be able to dig deeply into an area of their own practice that they have identified. As action researchers, teachers will use data, research, and reflection to investigate, modify, and improve their teaching practice.
One teacher’s project sought to give her students more freedom to explore during their visit to SF MOMA. Our wonderful middle school art teacher, Ms. Feldman worked with technology integrator Ms. Davis to design a digital docent for her collaborative work with the museum:
8th Grade Returns to Mountain Lake
After two years the class of 2017 returns to Mountain Lake, deepening their citizen science partnership with the organization, be sure you look for the boards at the lake!
3rd Grade Geography & Mapping Exploration
PARTNERS IN SUCCESS:
WHEN HAMLIN SCHOOL AND SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY JOIN FORCES, STUDENTS WIN!
For two years, neighborhood librarians at San Francisco Public Library: Golden Gate Branch on Green Street have teamed up with Hamlin to train students on using the San Francisco Public library’s children e- books for research.
On November 7th, Ms. Garcia’s and Ms. Silva’s third graders learned how to how to download digital books on their classroom iPads. Ms. Celeste Heike, children’s librarian worked in collaboration with Ms. Cardone and Ms. Davis to ensure all students in third grade could access the electronic collection. Hamlin students and teachers now have access to additional reference resource materials when searching for books that may be out of print or difficult to locate in our collection. Continue reading
STEMming the Gender Gap Day v.2
The Hamlin School will celebrate STEMming the Gender Gap Day on Friday, December 2. This day is an opportunity to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and careers among girls and to connect them with female tech leaders in the Bay Area. Hamlin girls will have the chance to see, interact with, learn from, and teach these women leaders as they prepare to be tomorrow’s tech superstars and help #StemGenderGap!
This year Hamlin is partnering with a variety of incredible Bay Area tech companies and organizations for STEMming the Gender Gap Day, such as The Lawrence Hall of Science, The Bay Area Discovery Museum, The Exploratorium, Quizlet, Twitter, NASA Ames Research Center, Autodesk, Common Sense Media, SalesForce, Pop Sugar, Event Brite, Mobilize, Other Machine Co., Honeybook, and more. Some examples of what Hamlin girls will be doing:
- Third graders will be making a presentation to the design team at Quizlet about their experience using the app in the classroom. Afterwards, students will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of women who work at Quizlet.
- Fourth graders will visit and learn about the largest wind tunnel on the west coast at NASA.
- Seventh graders will visit with a female MIT engineer at Other Machine Company to discuss women in tech and female entrepreneurship.
For questions about STEMming the Gender Gap Day, please email Mark Picketts at picketts@hamlin.org.