It’s time for another "Eduporium Featued Educator” interview. Each month, we’re highlighting the work of an educator who is effectively using EdTech to empower his or her students. We’re very excited to share their stories and their work with you and hope it will give more educators encouragement to try something new in the classroom. This month, we spoke to Brandy Jackson, who is a technology teacher we’ve had the pleasure of working with on a number of occasions.
Brandy Jackson
Tech Integration Specialist/Makerspace Teacher, Nauset Regional Middle School, Orleans, MA
Q&A:
What is your favorite project or activity you've done using EdTech?
My favorite EdTech right now is the Makey Makey class set. We are using it in about five different courses this year. We actually paired it with our new laser cutter to create interactive models of cells in Grade 6, the ecosystem energy period in Grade 7, interactive body systems in health classes, and created an interactive map in Grade 8 social studies.
Foreign language classes have also been using it to create interactive dialogues, upcycled musical instruments, and we just learned how to make pressure sensors for games in PE. I like the Makey Makey because it is really well priced and allows us to cover computer science standards, engineering standards, and content area standards quickly but deeply, which makes it a very meaningful tool.
What do you believe your students enjoy most about using EdTech?
The kids really enjoy the engineering design process, but this is something that’s often placed on the back burner in a classroom because it takes time. New EdTech tools, however, make hands-on engineering and design easier to implement on a more regular basis. My students’ favorite activity is when we have a pitch fest—something that’s similar to Shark Tank.
Students can use the 3D printers, laser cutter, sewing machines, Arduino’s, littleBits, Makey Makey’s, or our circuit building supplies to create their own inventions. By giving kids access to multiple tools and employing a choice model in my classroom, they are able to continuously build new skills by drawing on their personal interests.
What interests you most about Eduporium?
I first met the people from Eduporium at a tech education conference in 2016 and saw that they were a small local company investing in education and wanting to help STEAM teachers grow their craft, not just make a fast buck from recent STEM funding opportunities. I love that they are focused on teachers and offer hands-on demos at a school’s request. It has really helped me invest my limited EdTech funds on quality products that will work in a classroom.
I believe that this company wants me to be successful in my classroom and will continue to vet all the new products so that I don't have to. Time is a huge component of our school’s EdTech implementation and Eduporium has the products I need. They help me save time in not having to do all the research on my own.
Do you know of an educator who is doing exciting things with EdTech? Recommend them (or yourself!) as an Eduporium Featured Educator by applying here! Find out more about how Eduporium can revamp your classroom, library, or makerspace by heading to www.eduporium.com. Sign up as an educator and start saving with your discount!