make one more attempt to promote the COMPUTER BUILD project in our schools
and see if I can encourage a few more schools around the country and world
to add this to your computer curriculum in some grade. Together with a
colleague in 2003, we created this project at The Chapin School in NYC
back in 2004-05 and it proved to be tremendously successful there even
with many changes in computer teachers over the years. I am no longer
there but it continues annually as an exciting 7th grade tradition. When I
changed jobs and came to The Children's Storefront in Harlem, I had it in
the back of my mind that one day I would try to replicate it but not sure
when or how. Alan November at a Mohonk Tech conference once suggested that
I use SKYPE to have a skilled technician "be on call" when the kids were
building. This idea came to fruition this year when I connected with Ryan
Fox from TADS.COM in Minnesota who volunteered to play that role. Several
groups had trouble removing the fan and Ryan was masterful in helping them
and talking them through it as we aimed the camera at the components so
that he could watch the kids' fingers and see where they needed help.
In any case, I would be glad to talk or skype with anyone who "might be"
interested in adding this to your curriculum. All you need are old PCs and
a willingness to take a risk. You will be amazed at how multi-faceted this
project is -- with potential spinoffs of pictures, videos, writing,
Photoshop, blogs, twitter, PR and parents watching from their offices.
You will be amazed at how well kids take to disassembling and assembling a
computer. I did succeed in convincing Bob Irving who is a Summercore alum
to replicate the project; he had significant success and was glad he did
it a few years ago at the Lancaster Country Day School in PA. All is
described on http://www.summercore.com/build ... glad to connect you with
Ryan Fox in Minnesota as well and maybe he will play the same role for you.
Steve
p.s. perhaps next year we will do the BUILD project in Central Park in the
snow when school is closed ;-)
Steve Bergen (sbergen@cstorefront.org)
CIO and Computer Teacher, The Children's Storefront
An Independent School in Harlem
Web site: http://www.thechildrensstorefront.org
also co-director, The "Summercore" Teaching Company
until the Pats go 19-0 ... http://www.summercore.com
you can "follow Summercore" by going to
http://www.twitter.com/summercore
Summercore 2010 includes June 14-18 (VA) July 12-16 (NYC) July 26-30 (FL)
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