Ravenswood meeting 222

Ravenswood meeting 2/22 Ravenswood FabLab meeting February 22, 2016 Chris Proctor, Claire Rosenbaum, Robert Pronovost (Ravenswood Director of Curriculum and Instruction), Nico Janik (Ravenswood K-5 Science/Engineering Coordinator), Victor Aw (Maker VISTA—Americorps worker, leaving in May)

Current data collection

  1. There is a survey that was intended to be used to document pre/post student experiences. Three years ago, Robert created a version of the survey, in partnership with Andrew Martin (then at Stanford). A few classes tried to do the survey at end of 13-14 school year. There were some problems, for example the Spanish instructions were poorly translated. Students are not currently taking the survey. 
  2. Student usage of the FabLabs is currently tracked using a scan-in, scan-out system built by Victor in C++ (code shared with Chris).
    1. The Tinkerers (lab managers) report that the system is cumbersome, particularly with younger students who sometimes don’t know how to spell their names. 

Nuggets: Ideas for research

  1.     Robert’s priorities for FabLabs: Show that providing this kind of environment improves:
    1. attendance
    2. behavior (measured by referrals)
    3. academic performance (measured by grades)
  2. Nico’s observation: Newcomers to the US (ELLs) are really successful in Maker Spaces. They are able to be leaders in groups.
  3. Case studies of students who have changed trajectory via FabLabs. For example, Jesus, who made a lowrider car—He was never engaged and never finished his work in class. He got really into this project, did an amazing job, and is showing his project at the county fair. 
  4. Robert and Nico agreed that many teachers would be interested in exploring the use of portfolios to connect FabLabs with their courses.
  5. Chris asked who might be interested in participating in research (possibly using the Youth Participatory Action Research framework). Maybe middle-schoolers; maybe the Tinkerers.
  6. Victor: The FabLabs are a good place to stoke an interest in programming—“Students start off just wanting something to happen. Code.org works all right, but students don’t seem interested in progressing. They’ll go through the puzzles, and then lose interest.”

Next steps

  1. Chris will share our initial research agenda within two weeks (by Monday, March 7)
  2. Chris will work with Nico to schedule trips to visit sites. 

RAW

Data collection     3 years ago, Robert created his own survey.         Working with Andrew Martin on survey.          A few classes tried to do the survey at end of 13-14 school year.     Tracking         Victor: Students check in/out cards via ID         Tinkerers: Takes a lot of time, interferes with 

YPAR     Robert: Middle-school students interested?     Tinkerers interested? Nico:     Insight: Newcomers really successful in Maker Space.              Able to be leaders in groups.

Chavez. Open lunch Make time. 

What would make this look like a success?     Robert: Goal: Being in this type of environment increases          academic performance, attendance, behavior (referrals).       Student metrics available here.

    Chris: changing teacher practices. 

    Lowrider car. Jesus–never engaged, never finishes work. He got really into     it; did an amazing job. On to county fair!

What else can you tell me.      Different personalities     Castano. Dave Hicks. Certificated teacher’s classroom. 

Methods.      Portfolios. Interested.

Start out through Nico.      Tinkerers at each space. 

March 7, 

Younger kids can’t spell their last names.      Programmer. CPP

Victor: How to catch their eye.     Text. Just want something to happen, not reading text.      What are the paths toward computational literacy.      Code.org works all right; don’t seem interested in progressing.          They’ll go through the puzzles, and then lose interest.         Maybe it’s lunch-based?

    For me, personally, I was driven by seeing the result when it’s done.     A lot of the time, there’s no