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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Isaacs from Basking Ridge, NJ is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Isaacs is requesting

Empowering the Learner in the 'Maker Age'

My students need a Raspberry Pi and related books, 4 MaKey MaKey sets, Disney Infinity, OUYA console and Xbox One with Project Spark to enhance our constructionist learning environment!

  • $1,397 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Isaacs for his next project!

Help Mr. Isaacs

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Isaacs for his next project!

My Students

How would you like to work in a Game Design studio? Well, that's the feel I strive for as my students are actively creating games using a variety of tools. Students have many options to extend their learning through exciting activities that provide choice in the direction they choose to explore.

I teach video game design and development in a public middle school in New Jersey.

I teach a 7th grade computer cycle that all students take as part of our exploratory program and an 8th grade full semester elective. Students complete quests and earn experience points based on the path they take. Projects immerse students in the design process while they design, develop, test, troubleshoot, and ultimately publish their games. Some of the primary tools we use are GameMaker, MineCraft, and the Portal 2 Puzzlemaker. Beyond that, students can choose extension activities covering a wide variety of tools and approaches to learning. Many students come to the lab during lunch and after school to continue exploring the game design process and collaborate with their peers on projects. We have created a constructionist learning environment where students choose to spend their time based on their intrinsic interest in the subject matter.

My Project

It is my goal to empower my students to create and innovate. Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized computer that is an incredible tool for teaching and learning computer programming. Students are sure to gravitate toward MineCraft Pi edition which has students building minecraft creations through code. MakeyMakey is a wonderful tool that allows students to create a functional keyboard or game controller by completing circuits utilizing items that are conductors of electricity. Students will create a custom controller for the games they create.. The ouya console is a console built on the android OS geared toward independent game development. GameMaker, a product we use allows students to publish their games for Android, and thereby play them on the console. Finally, the Xbox One offers a development environment called Project Spark that will allow users to create beautiful game environments playable on the next-gen console.

This project will allow us to create a true Game Design Studio in the spirit of the Maker Movement.

I plan to empower students by putting the technology in their hands and seeing what THEY come up with. These are products that will excite the students and ignite their passion to learn. Creation and innovation empower students and help to build their skills, not to mention their confidence. I see this as a tremendous opportunity to introduce computer science in a FUN and engaging manner!

Mr. Isaacs William Annin Middle School Grades 6-8

More about Mr. Isaacs

Basking Ridge, NJ View local requests 100 students impacted 17donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Xbox One Standard Edition • Amazon $496.99 1 $496.99
Makey Makey - Standard Kit • Amazon $54.95 2 $109.90
OUYA Console • Amazon $99.99 1 $99.99
MaKey MaKey The Original Invention Kit for Everyone • Amazon $49.95 2 $99.90
CanaKit Raspberry Pi Ultimate Starter Kit (Over 35 Components: Raspberry Pi + WiFi Dongle + 8GB SD Card + Case + Power Supply and many more) • Amazon $79.99 1 $79.99
DISNEY INFINITY Starter Pack Xbox 360 • Amazon $60.54 1 $60.54
Xbox One Wireless Controller • Amazon $59.86 1 $59.86
Microsoft Xbox LIVE 12 Month Gold Card • Amazon $51.29 1 $51.29
OUYA Wireless Controller • Amazon $32.94 1 $32.94
Adventures In Raspberry Pi • Amazon $16.90 1 $16.90
Raspberry Pi For Dummies • Amazon $14.49 1 $14.49
Getting Started with Raspberry Pi (Make: Projects) • Amazon $12.27 1 $12.27

Materials cost

$1,135.06

Vendor shipping charges

 $4.99

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$17.03

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$1,187.08

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$209.48

Total project goal

$1,396.56

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,396.56

13 Donors

-$1,261.80

Donations toward project cost

-$1,077.64

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$184.16

match offer

-$128.75

Match offer toward project cost

-$109.44

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$19.31

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$6.01

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Isaacs and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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