by admin | Feb 6, 2017 | Digital Literacy, Educational Robotics, Reflections, Robotics, Robotics In The Classroom, STEAM Education, STEM Education
According to ISTE, the four C’s of education are Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Creativity.
This is 2017 learning, where students will not just be passive consumers of technology but actually understand why and how things work and how to make effective use of technology and enhance one’s learning.
These four C’s are more apparent in the academy than mentioned. Not only are kids and teens delving into robotics, they are doing far more than just playing with or programming a robot. They are learning (without knowing they actually are) about communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. By simply discussing ideas for their robotics projects or troubleshooting errors, they are working together with their team to find solutions to problems.
Thinking through the problems with a mindset geared towards a solution, collaborating with their team to ensure their robot works well and being creative with their solutions – makes a mind blowing experience (we don’t deny the tons of frustration involved, the communication malfunctions and series of little errors, of course!)
Yet, students tell of how much they are engaged in the classroom, their joys when they discover they could solve a problem, plus their frustrations when they could not and this makes for their reflective learning at Innovate Academy. We love the four C’s of education and continue to see them in the classrooms.
However, more than that, we also add on our core values such as patience, persistence and perseverance which students find essential in the 2017 classroom too (you need to have the three P’s too). They are never underrated.
by admin | Jan 16, 2017 | Digital Literacy, Digital Literacy Program for Kids and Teens, Technology programs for kids in Melbourne
A new year has started and is well on its way. Many of us feel that it is time to step up and challenge ourselves with something new and to move ahead with what we would like to achieve.
Last year, we introduced the Digital Literacy Spark Certification program for the younger kids and the Digital Literacy IC3G5 industry certification for the teens. We successfully graduated many kids and teens since then, from Victoria, interstate and even students from China and Indonesia! It is important that students do not just learn how to flick an Ipad or become passive consumers of technology, without understanding what it is all about, but truly becoming Digitally Literate and actually understanding computers, technology and how things work.
Think computers, hardware, software, the operating systems, peripherals. Plus, learning about key computer applications and how to use them effectively for both school work and the future. In this day and age, with an array of social media tools, students should learn how to live online safely and use these tools to their advantage and protect themselves from online bullying. There is so much to understand and learn!
Digital literacy is the way to go for students who are internet savvy, for ICT leaders, for those who wish to improve their knowledge of computer hardware and software and to take those skills to a higher level, for the love of learning. Armed with a globally recognized certification, students can proudly add this to their credentials.
For primary aged students, don’t miss the chance to take on a one term program in Term 2, 2017 and work towards your Digital Literacy Certification (SPARK).
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DIGITAL LITERACY CERTIFICATION (SPARK)
The Teen Digital Literacy program (Grades 7 and above) will be available very soon. Stay tuned.
