The D-Tech News
January 24, 2024
A Great Few Days
I look forward to sharing more about Design Tech with you through the D-Tech News, which I will try to do at least once a month. I also am going to attach the slides that I used during curriculum night in the fall. In addition, you are always welcome to ask your child to show you our Google Classroom to get an understanding of what we are doing in our class. (We will be setting up our Google Classroom when we return to school.)
Supplies Suggested for Design Tech
-A pencil
-Art supplies like colored pencils and markers (Not needed everyday, but helpful to have in locker. I have plenty in my class, but I know some kids like their own.)
-A Hot Glue Gun (that can use mini-glue sticks) with their name written on it. (You can usually get these for around $3-5...and even a fairly decent one at Dollar Tree.)
- A bag of mini all-temp hot glue sticks to donate to the classroom supply. (We go through thousands of sticks each semester.)
-A composition notebook with gridlines for our Engineering Notebook. You can purchase them at Staples in the store or you can purchase them online. (Something like... https://a.co/d/11MmtCx OR https://www.staples.com/Staples-Graph-Composition-Book-9-75-x-7-5-Graph-Paper-Notebook-Blue/product_132674 OR Amazon Journal We will begin this the first full week of February, so you have a bit of time.
As the semester goes on, we may have special projects that come up with other needs, but this should be fine for now. We also have an Amazon Wishlist with materials that cover some projects and materials that would be helpful to have. I have added the link below, so if you would like to donate to our Design Tech classroom, there are some ideas for you.
Upcycled Materials
-Old small appliances that could be taken apart.
-Toilet Paper Tubes
-Lids and caps
-cardboard
- Scrap wood pieces or other construction materials
-containers
-clean egg cartons
-packaging materials with interesting shapes (We do not need packing peanuts or bubble wrap)
-Pringles Cans
-Yarn, thread, buttons, etc.
-Old t-shirts (We have a loom)
-Anything you think would be cool!
At the front of my room, I have a bin that is marked with donations. Your child can drop it off there or if it is something that is larger, I can arrange for a drop off, as we have a door to the parking lot at the back of our workshop.
Beta Testing Swivl Mirror
I signed up to Beta test a new device that focuses on reflection in learning. It was just released this month, and we are going to be able to test it out for the company. So far it has been intriguing to see the capabilities of it. It incoporates AI in evaluating the reflection, and it even gives specifc feedback about the reflection. In addition, it has some brain break exercises, socail/emotional activities, and more. I am looking forward to empowering the students to share their reflections of the product with the company so they can experience what it is like to have a voice in the evolution of new products and new technology!
I'm Looking Forward to a Great Semester 2!
I am a Middle School Design Tech Teacher, innovative teaching and learning cheerleader, and advocate for teaching to and from the heart! http://www.theedtechcheerleader.com