How to improve outcomes for each student using and building robots Paw Kappel Bentley Park College

Supported by Queensland College of Teachers

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

We could improve student

outcomes through the use

and building of robots

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Thanks to:

• Peter Doherty Award

• Queensland College of Teachers Research Grant

• Google CS4HS

• Microsoft

• QSITE FNQ

• Advance Queensland

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

About me:

Danish trained teacher working as Head of Department ICT P – 12 at Bentley Park College in FNQ.

Microsoft Certified Educator, Certificate IV Screen & Media Instructor, Cisco Certified ITE and CCNA Instructor, Information Technology Systems teacher.

• 2017 Advance Queensland Community Digital Champion

• Peter Doherty Outstanding Teacher of STEM Award in 2016.

• QSITE Emerging Leader of the Year 2014 Award Winner

• Queensland Training Awards VET Trainer/Teacher of the year regional finalist 2014 and 2017

• BLA Cairns - VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year 2013

E: pkapp1@eq.edu.au Ph: 07 4040 8145 Mob: 0404 652 667

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

About Bentley Park College:

• Bentley Park College is a P–12 State college in the southern corridor of Cairns. Opening in 1997 with a Preschool unit, the College’s first cohort of Year 12 students graduated in 2004.

• Bentley Park College has a large concentration of Indigenous (33%), Pacific Islander and Hmong students and for many, English is their second language.

• The College’s socio-economic index is in the bottom quartile.

• In the past, the College did not have many high achieving students. Few pursued a university education and many ended up unemployed. Overall QCE attainment in 2011 was 55%, only 25% for Indigenous students.

• For many years Bentley Park College profiled itself through its Rugby League and Netball programs, focusing on student sporting strengths, while at the same time trying to get as many into university as possible. There was a need for broadening this focus and improving the College’s image and the first step was to introduce a new motto: ASPIRE LEARN ACHIEVE “Pathways to success”. The pathways referred to could be any pathways leading to life-long education and employment, not just in the sporting realm.

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

From 2012 a range of ICT initiatives and courses were introduced:

• Improved ICT course offerings

• Increased number of Certificate IV IDM and SAM achievements

• Increased number of Certificate II IDMT achievements

• Increased number of Cisco ITE and CCNA certificate achievements

• Increased number of Microsoft MOS, MTA and MCE certificates

• Improving from 55% QCE attainment in 2011 to 100% in 2016

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Research project background:

• Traditionally losing many students in transition from junior to high school

• Transition days years 5/6 and years 6/7 - “Bentley is Best!”

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Robotics at Bentley Park College:

Afternoon robotics club using Lego NXT and EV3

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Robotics as a subject:

2017 year 8 elective

• Arduino Uno boards

• Breadboards

• Shields

• 3D design of shell in 3Ds Max

• 3D printing of shell

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Robotics as a subject:

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• UK and Micro:Bit

Graeme Lawrie Nevita Pandya Zoheb Khostval • Sevenoaks • Private school

• Townley Grammar • Selective public school

• St Gregory Science CC • Private school

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• UK and Micro:Bit

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• Robotics in Scandinavia

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• Robotics in Scandinavia

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Key learning points:

• Using and building robots engages students in their learning

• Requires the needed staff (at least one very committed)

• School leadership backing is important

• Tinkering time is a vital part to secure the student outcome

• It is not about the funding

• Gain support from other schools

• Collaborate

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Why and how does Robotics make a difference?

• Tinkering time – develop their own understanding

• It is better to be wrong for the right reasons than it is to be right for the wrong reasons

• Teacher instruction to make connections

• Students produce with a purpose (authentic problem solving)

• Flexible problem solving

• Developing reasoning skills, generating hypotheses and explanations.

• Investigation that involves inquiry

• Student driven – not teacher driven

Getting kids ready for school

Planning

Assessments

Getting fatter

Staff Meeting

Performance Night

Report Cards

Parent Teacher Interviews

Cook Dinner

Teaching

Professional Development

Marking

Homework Phone calls

Family

School Disco Teach Meet after work

Laminating

Glitter Removal

NAPLAN

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• How do you find the time?

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• STEM projects at Bentley Park College to support other schools!

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

Creating pathways for Bentley Park College students:

• Training staff across our college and at our feeder schools

• Internet of Things (IoT) at JCU Cairns

• Partnership with JCU - Cairns, Townsville, Singapore

Improving student outcomes using and building robots

• Questions?

• Thank you!