If you are not yet familiar with Arduino, you’ve been missing out on arguably the biggest trend in DIY electronics. In fact, the Open Source hardware movement wouldn’t be complete without Massimo Banzi, co-inventor of the Arduino, a tiny, easy-to-use open-source microcontroller that’s inspired thousands of people around the world to make the coolest things [...]
Archive for the ‘STEAM’ Category
Open Source Hardware & The Maker Movement
Posted by ginac on June 28th, 2012
Google Summer of Code 2012 – Students Flip Bits, Not Burgers
Posted by ginac on March 28th, 2012
Imagine getting paid to do something you love. Imagine also getting valuable career experience, a mentor, and a valuable professional network–all before you’ve graduated from college. If you’re at least 18 and enrolled in an accredited pre-college or college, you could be flipping bits instead of burgers this summer while creating an amazing portfolio. Google [...]
Posted in Back to School, College, Computer Programming, STEAM, technology 
Tags: Computer Programming, google, Open source, Summer of Code 
Comments OffAward-Winning PBS Animated Series Now Available Online
Posted by ginac on December 5th, 2011
Cyberchase, an Emmy Award-winning animated series for 8-11 year-olds is now completely available online. This fun, STEM-rich series is full of hands-on math, engineering, and physics lessons weaved creatively into the stories. Learn more about Cyberchase over at GeekMom
Posted in Activities, Interdisciplinary, Math, Online Tools, Science, STEAM Tags: computers, Cyberchase, PBS, STEM, technology, Thirteen, WNET Comments OffKhan Academy Expanding through Bricks and Mortar and Crowdsourcing
Posted by ginac on November 30th, 2011
Sal Khan, founder of the now famous online math and science video tutorial website Khan Academy, is thinking about expanding his online tools into the physical world and beyond. Although Sal already runs a small summer camp in Silicon Valley for science and technology middle and high schoolers, he is thinking about possibly creating a project-based [...]
Posted in Learning Methods, Online Tools, Science, STEAM, Teaching methods Tags: Crowdsourcing, eLearning, Khan Academy, Online Learning, Project-based learning, Sal Khan Comments OffUnschoolers Already Know This: Youth Don’t Like Learning STEM in Classrooms
Posted by ginac on November 16th, 2011
Harry Potter fans may remember the 5th Harry Potter Book (The Order of the Pheonix) when a government appointed teacher (Professor Umbridge) at Hogwarts School changes the learning process in her classroom so that kids only learn theory and not practice. Disappointed students preferred to practice what they’ve learned and found the in-class reading and [...]
Posted in Eclectic Homeschooling, Learning Methods, News, STEAM, Teaching methods Tags: alternative education, Education Reform, Homeschooling, Learning, NPR, Science Friday, STEM, Unschooling Comments OffScoop.it! Disruptive Learning
Posted by ginac on November 5th, 2011
Scoop.it is a fun way to share online articles, videos, photos, etc. around a topic. It is free, easy to use, and fun to curate. We’ve curated an eclectic collection of disruptive learning articles on our Scoop.it specially for SpottyBanana viewers. In our case, disruptive learning means nonmainstream, non- traditional learning ideas outside of the [...]
Posted in Activities, Art, Eclectic Homeschooling, Learning Methods, Literacy, Online Tools, STEAM Tags: content curation, disruptive learning, Eclectic Homeschooling, Learning, online tools, Scoop.it, spottybanana Comments OffLearning by the Path of Least Resistance
Posted by ginac on October 31st, 2011
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao-Tzu Humanity has disrupted nature’s path of least resistance by creating cities, structures, roads, and even political systems that defy natural conditions. We [...]
Posted in Eclectic Homeschooling, Interdisciplinary, Reading, STEAM, Unit Study Tags: constrtuctivism, creativity, Homeschooling, Learning, play, Project-based learning, technology, Unschooling, whole learning Comments OffSteve Jobs Lived Outside the Box
Posted by ginac on October 6th, 2011
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, died on October 5, 2011, losing his long battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve changed our world in so many ways that it is difficult to imagine where innovation goes from here. Learn more about the amazing man and his vision and unique technology philosophy that made all the difference. Thanks [...]
Posted in Culture, Design, STEAM, technology, TED Tags: Apple, disruptive innovation, icon, iconoclast, innovation, Inspiration, STEAM, Steve Jobs, technology, the arts Comments OffLegoland Florida Sneak Preview
Posted by ginac on September 3rd, 2011
Legoland Florida opens to the public on October 15, 2011. Learn about some cool insider information straight from Legoland Florida Master Builder, Jason Miller. Read my GeekMom article: Legoland Florida: A Geeky Preview
Posted in Events, Learning Methods, LEGOs, News, STEAM Tags: Darth Vader, LEGO, Legoland Florida, Star Wars Comments OffTwitter Co-Founder Credits Creativity, Art, and Empathy
Posted by ginac on September 1st, 2011
Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, never graduated from college. He dropped out of Northeastern University and University of Massachusetts. Yet, University of California Berkeley’s Haas School recently named Biz to an Executive Fellowship. The Wall Street Journal recently interviewed Mr. Stone and published excerpts. Although Biz works with MBA students, his advice really applies to all [...]
Posted in Culture, Interdisciplinary, Learning Methods, STEAM, Teaching methods Tags: Arts, Biz Stone, creativity, Empathy, Entrepreneurship, honesty, Learning, Truth, Twitter Comments Off
