Funded Aug 21, 2018It may seem insignificant, it may seem small -- computer mice? We have chromebooks, each of them have the trackpads. So why computer mice? I challenge you to make a free tinkercad account and attempt to design a three-dimensional object using a trackpad. It's a nightmare! Working in three dimensions is exciting until you are trying to get an exact angle of 42.3 degrees using a trackpad that keeps jumping you between 40 and 45 degrees. There are already so many barriers in place for learning 3D modeling and by providing our students with mice, one of the most aggravating obstacles has been removed!
As you have no doubt seen in the pictures, kids were already overjoyed to have the new tools. I have been using the mice as part of an incentive system where students rack up points in class for meeting or exceeding behavior expectations, then being able to use those points to "rent" mice for their 3D projects. This has helped immensely with key students who now have something tangible and real to spend their points on.
A wide range of students have already taken advantage of the mice for their chromebooks with other work. Not only do they use it for 3D modeling, but they have been using it for everyday work. Students who do not have regular access to computers at home sometimes struggle with navigating a chromebook with nothing but a trackpad. Having the mouse has already had a noticeable effect on their confidence in using the chromebook, increasing their buy-in. Having access to these tools has already been an immense help, so on behalf of all my students, thank you thank you thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. DeBois