IN North Allegheny Spring 2017 | Page 21

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

EDUCATION

SPONSORED CONTENT
Grade 4 Robotic Vehicle Designs
Grade 5 Robotic Cube Launcher Challenge
Grade 2 students use X ’ s to mark the spots where they test their Bee-Bot program .
Grade 4 presenting their universal design to a guest .

Technology Equals Success at Sewickley Academy

By Lower School Technology Coordinator Julia Tebbets

Pittsburgh , once known as a booming steel town , has replaced the mills with thriving medical and technology industries . Sewickley Academy prepares students to excel in these fields , starting in Grade 1 , with technology curriculum that intentionally cultivates mindsets , which leads to success .

We teach creative thinking by providing more than a set of instructions with a known outcome . Each unit involves a challenge with many possible solutions but limited materials , to prompt creative responses .
Engineering challenges are a natural way to practice problem-solving . Students learn specific problem-solving techniques such as breaking down a large problem into smaller components . With a small box of materials , including a newspaper and a piece of string , Grade 2 students build something that allows them to retrieve a Ping-Pong ball from six feet away . Students program their Bee-Bots to follow a designated path and aim to land on the X ’ s . If they don ’ t hit the spot , students have to assess the problem and adjust the programming .
Programming provides practice identifying patterns and forming logical sequences . Students practice coding in a variety of environments so they learn not just how to accomplish something in a specific environment , but discover the programming principles – like “ loops ”( a sequence of instructions that is continually repeated ) – that recur in all environments .
We explicitly teach our students persistence through failure and to work toward excellence by emphasizing that people strengthen their brains and become more capable through focused practice of new activities and patterns .
All major projects , whether focused on invention , programming , robotics , or multimedia communication , are structured around a design cycle that includes collecting feedback and
making improvements . Self-assessment and peer-assessment are an increasingly important part of this process as students advance through the Lower School . This helps them take ownership of their learning and celebrate their growth .
Interpersonal communication is an essential skill , so we use projects and activities , structured around designing something for another person or together with a partner , to practice taking others ’ needs into account . Older students practice participating appropriately and generously in an online programming community . Each grade level also includes projects focused on multimedia communication and / or speaking to an audience .
At Sewickley Academy , we also integrate technology in the teaching of core subjects like social studies and math . Students use digital devices to learn , research , and express what they know . In Grades 1 and 2 , children share iPads to foster the development of interpersonal communication and collaboration . Students in the third and fourth grades practice productivity skills such as word processing and multimedia communication , while Grade 5 students benefit from a dedicated iPad and a Chromebook for each student to use at school .
Through a common set of learning goals that unifies the curriculum across all grade levels , Sewickley Academy is equipping students to excel in the technology field or pursue their desired career upon graduation .
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