PADLET

-

Using Padlet in lessons for "warm-up our imagination" starter activities has proven to be really engaging and fun for students.

1.      https://en-gb.padlet.com/barrowt/bike-of-the-future-qc1crc7415535jq1

Students were asked to close their eyes and imagine a bike or motorbike for the future. They were encouraged to be as imaginative as possible, and then they opened their eyes and described it to their partner. Afterwards, they used the vocabulary they deemed most important to prompt the Gen AI function in Padlet. When presented with a handful of options, they selected the one that they thought was closest to their mind's eye (or altered their prompt until they were happy) and shared it with the rest of the class on the Padlet board. The Padlet board also shared their work in real-time on the main classroom screen. I also asked the students to copy and paste their prompts so the whole class could see them.

2.      https://en-gb.padlet.com/barrowt/design-a-toothbrush-for-a-specific-client-owr6e782qatdbssu

This activity was really interesting. The task was to design a toothbrush for a specific client of their choice. This time, we didn't share our prompts but rather had a class discussion on what those prompts could have been, who the target markets were, and why.

A note for Padlet - as a D&T teacher, I really don't like the fact that the AI gen function is called 'I can't draw'. This name has negative connotations, and I spend a lot of time convincing students that they can draw - that anyone can. Otherwise, this function is fantastic.

Popular posts from this blog

STEM week

-
Image
 A small STEM week due to lockdown timing This year's STEM week at Sandringham School was smaller than it would have been due to it coinciding with the return to school after the second school closure of the year. I took a lead on planning the DT lessons for year 7&8 and liasing with the overall project lead. It was a shame we could not implement some of our whole school ideas but I look forward to next year!  Using padlet to create a competitive gallery This year's theme was biodiversity.  In DT students were asked to choose from 3 design briefs to  competitive design section of the lesson. The DT lessons were all tied together across the department using padlet. There were 5 simultaneously taught classes for half a year group at a time totaling 20 classes.  When all classes were complete and all students had uploaded their work an overall winner was chosen. The 3 padlets produced were full of work and students were able to see a live gallery and work being added to them i
Read more

Blue Hearts for the NHS

-
Image
A project to say thank you with a visual collage from as many students as possible. Sandringham Students across all year groups joined together to create an artwork honouring and thanking our heroes in the NHS. I organised this in collaboration with both the Design Technology and the Visual Art Faculties, The project was organised as a starter activity in lessons. Students were asked to make a heart to thank the NHS. The only rule was that it was to be blue, but they were encouraged to use a wide range of materials and tools, which included traditional fine art techniques, photography, CAD, lego, textiles, digital methods and even snow. All of us involved were very impressed with the variety of designs submitted, and the passion from the students. It was so touching to see how much they wanted to thank NHS workers and our frontline heroes. For some students it was much closer to home with a family member on the front line they really wanted to thank. I delivered some A3 laminated print
Read more

Future-proofing D&T

-
Image
  I support Pearson’s conceptual proposal for ‘future-proofing’ design education. As a teacher of Design and Technology I am a passionate believer that sustainability and climate change education should be at the forefront of what we do, not simply a bolt-on to existing design and make projects currently taught in the majority of schools. D&T is often seen as the ‘problem solving’ subject; surely the most important problem to address is climate change. This should be part of the design education fundamentals, framing the way we teach, and what we teach. Our world is fundamentally under pressure due to climate change; a world which is built on a digital infrastructure and language like never before. The key to the future of our subject is equipping students to think like designers and critical consumers in the current and future world. As design educators we have a responsibility to equip our students with skills for the future. This means encouraging our students to become emp
Read more