Past projects 9
New Chromebook for ScreenCasting & Independent Study Students!
Funded Apr 11, 2020Thank you so much! With your help I can finish my project. I couldn't do it without you!
Also, I need these materials more than ever so I can be more effective teaching from home. My current hardware is too old for all the screencasting and video conferencing I have to do now!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
A New Graphing Calculator For A New Century!
Funded May 18, 2019My students and I are finally all set. I gave each of them one of the nSpires to use in class and at home. They signed out the calculators like we signed out our textbooks. Emulator software came with each calculator, so we will have an emulator on their PCs as a backup.
The nSpire will now be the focal point of all my lessons. In AP Calculus BC class I teach the Rule of Four. In other words, we GNAW at every new problem. GNAW stands for solving problems in 1-4 modalities: Graphically, Numerically, Algebraically or Wordily (Verbally). The nSpire is a great tool to use for the first three! With the nSpire, we can graph any function, analyze data and solve equations algebraically.
My students have great fun trying to figure out this new calculator! They keep saying how cool the TI nSpire CX CAS looks. The latest version is very slim now that it has rechargeable batteries. The battery recharges via a USB mini port. So, I had to give out chargers as well. Most of us only had USB micro chargers for our cellphones. The display is in color and has a higher resolution than our old TI-89s. The menus and templates are much easier to use as well.
I teach in a PC Lab. That means that I have a PC to run my SmartBoard and make ScreenCasts for Youtube. Also, every student has a PC to follow along as I teach about a new concept or using new technology.
So, please allow me to extend to all my donors a warm, heart-felt thank you from myself and all the students that will benefit from this project in the years to come! This project will truly be a "game changer" in my classroom as we use graphing calculators in calculus class every single day."”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
This classroom project was brought to life by Google.org and 4 other donors.Building a Raspberry PI Cluster, It's a Tasty Treat!
Funded Nov 27, 2018We used to complete a similar project every year basically for free using our classroom PCs. We had 25 PCs where we would install Linux as the operating system and then add openSHH to easily set up a cluster plus openMPI to write, compile and execute parallel programs on said cluster.
We no longer have access to Linux in our PC Lab, so we are replacing the 25 PC nodes of our cluster with 25 Raspberry PIs (RPIs)! With the power supplies, NOOBS Sim Cards and other accessories you have provided, we are ready to go.
We recently unboxed everything you generously gave us. Now we are experimenting with the RPIs as replacement PCs just to get used to using them. What's nice about these RPIs is that they boot from the NOOBS Sim cards directly into a Linux desktop complete with a Python interpreter. We used to use MPI4PY which is based on Python, so this is a perfect solution.
Thanks to you, we finally have all the building blocks for our project!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
Entering the Maker Space with CoDrones (Once More)!
Funded Mar 27, 2018Thank you so much for your generosity! The donors on DonorsChoose.org never cease to amaze me. No matter what my students need you always come through!
We received our CoDrones with perfect timing. The delivery from Amazon occurred right after my students took their AP Computer Science exam. So, once they were done with all their other AP exams, we could get right down to work. Unfortunately, AP exams started a week later than usual (2nd week of May) and our exam was later than usual (AP Exam Week 2), so we only had a few weeks to dig into the project,
Phase One was all about building an Arduino compatible hand-held controller. We completed this step and learned all bout controlling the Pitch, Roll and Yaw of our CoDrones. We had fun competing in races and making obstacle courses in class!
Phase Two was all about writing Python code in our Arduino IDE to make the CoDrone follow a pre-programmed flight plan.
Phase Three was about coding our CoDrones for autonomous flight. In other words, we could automate the process of obstacle avoidance by writing code for various sensors on the CoDrone.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time for Phases One & Two since we had issues installing some drivers for the Arduino IDE.
We had great fun with this project. We will most definitely try this project again next year. With al the work we did this year, we'll have a great head start!
Thanx so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Entering the Maker Space with CoDrones!
Funded Mar 20, 2018Thank you so much for your generosity! The donors on DonorsChoose.org never cease to amaze me. No matter what my students need you always come through!
We received our CoDrones with perfect timing. The delivery from Amazon occurred right after my students took their AP Computer Science exam. So, once they were done with all their other AP exams, we could get right down to work. Unfortunately, AP exams started a week later than usual (2nd week of May) and our exam was later than usual (AP Exam Week 2), so we only had a few weeks to dig into the project,
Phase One was all about building an Arduino compatible hand-held controller. We completed this step and learned all bout controlling the Pitch, Roll and Yaw of our CoDrones. We had fun competing in races and making obstacle courses in class!
Phase Two was all about writing Python code in our Arduino IDE to make the CoDrone follow a pre-programmed flight plan.
Phase Three was about coding our CoDrones for autonomous flight. In other words, we could automate the process of obstacle avoidance by writing code for various sensors on the CoDrone.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time for Phases One & Two since we had issues installing some drivers for the Arduino IDE.
We had great fun with this project. We will most definitely try this project again next year. With al the work we did this year, we'll have a great head start!
Thanx so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
New Android Tablet Needed for ScreenCasting Project!
Funded Nov 12, 2015Thank you so much for helping me get my new Samsung Galaxy NotePro 12.2" Android Tablet! I have gotten so much more utility out of this tablet than any I had before.
For many years, I used the SmartTech AirLiner Slate (aka Graphire 6x8 BlueTooth Tablet). This tablet connected to my PC as a remote mouse. I could write on the tablet to give notes in class for my students on the SmartBoard. However, it was very hard to do so as I could not see what I wrote on the tablet itself! I was forced to crane my neck to look at the SmartBoard as I wrote on the Slate which was very difficult to coordinate.
Now that you have given me the opportunity to experiment with much more sophisticated equipment, I've been able to:
(1) connect to the SmartBoard remotely with the NotePro as I did with the Slate. Now it's very easy to see what I write on the tablet itself. ScreenCasting my lessons for YouTube has never been easier!
(2) have my students use the Slate and add content to the SmartBoard directly for the rest of the class to see and for our ScreenCasts.
(3) record a whole ScreenCast on the tablet itself using the S-Pen, built-in mic and recording app independently from the SmartBoard. Now I can ScreenCast anytime and anywhere I want to share a new lesson or a tip for the HomeWork with my class in school and out on YouTube, Edmodo and BlogSpot.
(4) attach a BlueTooth Keyboard and Mouse so I can type my notes on the screen as when I'm teaching coding for my Computer Science classes.
I'm sure that I'm only scratching the surface. However, as you can see, I can already do so much more for my students due to your generosity! Thank you so much!!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
More New Graphing Calculators for a New Century!
Funded Oct 8, 2014My students and I are finally all set. I gave each of them one of the nSpires to use in class and at home. They signed out the calculators like we signed out our texts. We will have an emulator on their PCs as a backup.
I will be all set too with my emulator, USB mic and WiFi Tablet to control my SmartBoard and record class for YouTube. By the way, these ScreenCasts have become essential for students that need to review an old topic or for a student who needs to review the day's lesson before doing the homework or for a student who misses my class!
The nSpire will now be the focal point of all my lessons. In AP Calculus BC class I teach the Rule of Four. In other words, we GNAW at every new problem. GNAW stands for solving problems in 1-4 modalities: Graphically, Numerically, Algebraically or Wordily (Verbally). The nSpire is a great tool to use for the first three! With the nSpire, we can graph any function, analyze data and solve equations algebraically.
My students are having great fun trying to figure out this new calculator! They keep saying how cool the TI nSpire CX CAS looks. The latest version is very slim now it has rechargeable batteries. The battery recharges via a USB mini port. So, I had to give out chargers as well. Most of us only had USB micro chargers for our cellphones. The display is in color and has a higher resolution than our old TI-89s. The menus and templates are much easier to use as well.
I teach in a PC Lab. That means that I have a PC to run my SmartBoard and make ScreenCasts for Youtube. Also, every student has a PC to follow along as I teach about a new concept or using new technology.
So, it's really important to have an emulator on each PC's desktop. We've been working on getting one to work on all our PCs. However, we have a problem. We use Linux, not Windows. The emulator that came with the nSpire only works in Windows. We've been experimenting with several options. We finally a solution! You can see the results in my latest ScreenCasts for AP Calculus BC with nSpire on my YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
So, once again, please allow me to extend to all my donors a warm, heart-felt thank you from myself and all the students that will benefit from this project in the years to come! This project will truly be a "game changer" in my classroom as we use graphing calculators in calculus class every single day.”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
A New Graphing Calculator For A New Century!
Funded May 3, 2014Thank you for all your help! I'm the better for it. My students are the better for it. You are the better for it. I salute you all!
My students are already having great fun trying to figure out this new calculator! They keep saying how cool the TI nSpire CX CAS looks. Its very slim now that the newest version has rechargeable batteries. The display is in color and has a higher resolution than our old TI-89s. The menus and templates are much easier to use as well.
I teach in PC Lab. That means that I have a PC to run my SmartBoard and make ScreenCasts for Youtube. Also, every student has a PC to follow along as I teach about a new concept or using new technology. So, it's really important to have an emulator on each PC's desktop. We've been working on getting one to work on all our PCs. However, we have a problem. We use Linux, not Windows. The emulator that came with the nSpire only works in Windows. We've been experimenting with several options. We're close to a solution, never fear!
So, next year, my students will be all set. I will give each of them one of the nSpires to use in class and at home. They will have an emulator on their PCs as a backup. I will be all set too with my emulator, USB mic and WiFi Tablet to control my SmartBoard and record class for Youtube. By the way, these ScreenCasts have become essential for students that need to review an old topic or for a student who needs to review the day's lesson before doing the homework or for a student who misses my class!
The nSpire will now be the focal point of all my lessons. In AP Calculus BC class I teach the Rule of Four and GNAW at every new problem. GNAW stands for solving problems in 1-4 modalities: Graphically, Numerically, Algebraically or Wordily (Verbally). The nSpire is a great tool to use for the first three! With the nSpire, we can graph any function, analyze data and solve equations algebraically.
So, once again, please allow me to extend to all my donors a warm, heart-felt thank you from myself and all the students that will benefit from this project in the years to come! This project will truly be a "game changer" in my classroom as we use graphing calculators in calculus class every single day.”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
PC Projector Needed for SmartBoard Project!
Funded Jul 21, 2009Sorry for the delay in writing you your well deserved thank you note!
I had a few problems with the order. When I confirmed that we still needed the projector in September, the original item was out of stock. I then ordered a different projector, so I did not receive it until October! Then, we didn't have a matching ceiling mount, so I had to wait until just last week until the tech dept machined me a new mount and installed the new projector.
Wow, what a difference your donation has made for me and my students. Sure, we could learn Calculus the old fashioned way with a textbook, pencil and paper and chalkboard. However, now I can display all my notes on the projection screen and record everything I say and do for future reference.
I use the new projector in concert with Smart Notebook software and a PC Tablet and a wireless microphone. This combination allows me to store my written notes electronically as pdf files. Also, everything I can do on my PC desktop is displayed on the projector and recorded as a video. Now, my students can review old topics they are rusty on or see today's class even when they are absent!
Please see http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009 for sample videos. Thank you so much, without your help, all this would not have been possible!”
With gratitude,
Mr. G.
This classroom project was brought to life by Korein Foundation and one other donor.