Maker Lab2016-2017

Instructor: Mr. Joslin E-mail: jjoslin@newhampton.org Phone: (603)677-3968 Web: log into onCampus

Course Description

This semester elective introduces students to the principles of design, invention, and tinkering that are fundamental to the Maker Movement. Students cultivate their own passions and ideas to develop and implement a semester long project of their choice. This is a blended course where students manage their own schedules to work independently on their projects while still having the opportunity to meet as a class once a week to present ideas and give and receive feedback. Students will identify key skills that they need to master and resources to help them do so in order to complete their stated project goals. This course will emphasize the learning process instead of the success or failure of the final project. If a student is truly engaged in their own learning, then they cannot help to achieve a certain level of success in this class.

Course Competencies & Foundations of Learning Skills*

Competency #1: Making By the conclusion of this course students will demonstrate an ability to invent, design, and tinker by:

a. developing a personal passion and a desire to learn and cultivate that passion.

b. identifying and independently developing skills in order to achieve a stated purpose.

c. creating a final product, service, or processCompetency #2: Grit By the conclusion of this course students will develop guts, resiliency, integrity, and tenacity by:

a. demonstrating independent workb. solving problemsc. taking ownership of their own work

Competency #3: Process By the conclusion of this course students will present process, product, and reflection by:

a. organizing project steps, meetings, and materials

b. documenting process, product, and reflections via a digital portfolio

c. taking ownership of their learning, work, and product

Honor Code

As a member of the New Hampton School community:• I will conduct myself with integrity and honesty

in all matters. • I will demonstrate respect and responsibility in

all of my actions. • I will uphold the values of active citizenship

and abide by the expectations set forth in the School Life Handbook

Class MeetingsBlocks: A, C, E*

*Each block will meet as a class once per week as scheduled on the course calendar.

Room #: Pilalas 103

Extra Help & Focused InstructionOffice Hours (see school schedule)

Focused Instruction: Once a week, each student will meet with Mr. Joslin outside of

class for approximately 20 minutes to receive focused feedback and help. These appointments will be scheduled (both time

and location) during the weekly class meeting.

Course Expectations

Course MaterialsIn general, it will be up to you to determine which materials are truly necessary for this course. Most class meetings, you will need to be able to edit your digital portfolio and give feedback, which means you will need to connect to the internet.

These items may be helpful during class meetings: • Headphones (for viewing instructional videos)• Pen or Pencil• Charged iPad or laptop with cord• Sketchbook/Notebook• Calculator

These apps may be helpful for your project:• NHS provided apps• Weebly• Socrative

There is no textbook for this class. All teacher provided course material (videos, articles, websites, etc.) will be available in onCampus.

Technology PolicyWe will use the following system to determine when it is appropriate to use technology during class.

RED LIGHT: Technology is off and stored away.

YELLOW LIGHT:Technology is used for specific purpose as designated by the teacher.

GREEN LIGHT:Technology is used for designated tasks, research , or other activities directly related to your course project.

Each time technology is used inappropriately in class, you will be docked 5 time credits.

Attendance/TardinessAttendance is required at all scheduled class meetings. If your absence is not excused, you will receive a cut.

Please be on time. If you are not present when class begins (i.e. when the door is closed), you will lose time credits.

For example, for each class meeting that you are on time, you will receive 70 time credits. If you are late 5 minutes, you will only receive 65 time credits. You need a minimum number of time credits to complete the course.

If you are late 15 minutes, you will receive a cut and lose time credits.

ParticipationA successful student in MakerLab will participate fully during each class meeting, will come to class prepared with all required materials and work, and will organize all course materials in a clear and concise manner.

Participation will not be assessed explicitly as the students are responsible for organizing and executing their project while meeting all other course expectations. Effective use of time (in and out of class), meeting deadlines, and demonstrating skills mastery is dependent upon active and consistent participation. Students are expected to complete and document a minimum of 2 hours of independent work each week.

Cell PhonesIn general, it is the expectation that cell phones are turned off and stored out of sight during class meetings. There may be times when cell phones may used for music or other teacher approved activities, but this will be rare.

Each time a cell phone is used inappropriately in class, you will be docked 5 time credits.

Missing WorkNot many assignments will have specific deadlines in this course, but there are a few, especially at the beginning. Late assignments will lose 10% score credit per calendar day until they are completed. You will still be expected to complete each assignment to earn the full time credit, even if you do not earn the full score credit.

Unexcused AbsenceAny missed in-class assignment or assessment due to an unexcused absence will receive zero score credit. You will need to complete the assignment to earn its time credit or do additional work to make up the time credit.

Unplanned Excused AbsencesYou will have 1 week to make up any in-class assignments that you miss due to unplanned excused absences (i.e. you become ill). If you complete the missed work by the next class meeting, you will receive full time and score credit for the assignment.

Planned Excused AbsencesIf you have a planned excused absence, you must complete the in-class assignments or equivalent time-credit work while away and submit it upon your return. You must meet with the teacher to discuss the work that must be completed before you depart.

Course Work

Competency-Based GradingOn one assignment you may see multiple grades. That is because different skills are being assessed. For instance, you may have done an excellent job writing a reflection on a portfolio post but may have made some errors on your solution diagram. By assessing you in this way I can better target feedback and instruction.

Time CreditsA standard class at New Hampton requires 60 hours of work between class meetings and homework. You will be required to

complete the same amount of work in MakerLab, although the majority of your work time will be independent. To maintain the integrity of the course, you will be expected to keep track of the hours you work on your project by earning time credits. You can earn credits by attending class, completing assignments, and working on your project.

You will need to earn a minimum of 3600 time credits

to pass the course.

Please see the table below for estimated time credit earnings.

Grading ProceduresSemester grades are calculated using the following categories and percentages:

Competency % Grade

Making 30%

Grit 30%

Process 40%

CourseworkThere will be a variety of graded assignments in this course, including (but not limited to):

• reading, writing, and problem solving assignments• organizational and planning assignments• presentation and discussion assignments

For each assignment, the grading criteria will be discussed or distributed when the assignment is given. Many assignments will be graded with the use of a rubric, which will be distributed prior to the assignment. All rubrics will be available in onCampus.

Course Work (cont.)

Extra Credit

The best way to earn credit is to do the work assigned by the teacher. Extra-credit projects will not be provided at the request of the student.

Self-Paced Learning

Students will be allowed to progress through their own project at their own pace as long as they are writing weekly reflections and contributing during class meetings. Students must accumulate 3600 time credits by the end of the term in order to pass the course.

If a student earns enough time credits, completes the minimum number of repetitions for each

assignment type, and accomplishes their project goals prior to the end of the term, then they will be allowed to begin a new project. They will still need to attend all scheduled course meetings.

Skills Mastery

In an effort to encourage students to take academic risks and to do their best to reach proficiency with the skills and content being taught, students will be required to improve or “re-do” all coursework until a grade of “Proficient” (80%) is earned.

I encourage all students to utilize Office Hours or other pre-arranged meeting times to ensure that expectations are met and that they are mastering the skills taught in the course.

Independent Project

The purpose of this course is to afford students the opportunity to deeply investigate a single topic or a few closely related topics in order to develop specific skills and cultivate personal passion and purpose. Therefore, the entire semester will be dedicated to a single independent project of the student’s choice. Students will work as a class and with me to develop the desired outcomes of their project and to outline the necessary steps to achieve these outcomes.

The project must meet the following criteria:• student developed, master 2 new skills, document the process via a digital portfolio, must

create something

In this project, students will be responsible for • organizing their time• mastering the requisite skills• using an iterative process to refine their project.

Selected Topics and Assignments for 2016-2017

Comp.

Activity Type Frequency/Semester

Time Credit Total Time

Introduction and SketchUp Basics

Class Meeting 14 70 980

Shared Calendar 14 0 0

Time Card 14 0 0

Portfolio Comment 14 0 0

Focused Instruction 10 20 200

Portfolio Post 14 30 420

Solution Diagram 4 30 120

Idea Bracket 1 60 60

Book or Movie 1 150 150

Work Time 28 60 1680

TOTAL 3610