By William Van Zyl (July 2021) Listen to the podcast of this story and article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-spxxm-10f938c *Additional to this article: Don’t miss the great lesson ideas at the end (for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers) – Digital Collaborative Learning. “Rat-a-strophic,” laughed the freight plane dispatcher. “Or, maybe Cat-o-matics,” chuckled the second dispatcher. “They are going to… Continue reading Rat-a-Strophics and Cat-o-Matics
Month: July 2021
Learn Technology through Arts and Crafts: for 12-year-old to 16-year-old students. Primary and Secondary School. Integrated Learning. Global Citizenship. Critical Thinking. Electrical Circuits. Programming. Multi-materials.
By William Van Zyl (edited in 2021) Synopsis: This resource introduces a simple lesson of cardmaking with electrical circuits. STEM & STEAM focus. The project – a greeting card – includes cardboard, and an elementary electrical circuit running on 3 Volts (coin battery). The sticky copper strip circuit for the card involves the 3-Volt battery,… Continue reading Learn Technology through Arts and Crafts: for 12-year-old to 16-year-old students. Primary and Secondary School. Integrated Learning. Global Citizenship. Critical Thinking. Electrical Circuits. Programming. Multi-materials.
A transplanted heart – unsettled by murder – makes a 180-degree turn into a blinding light.
‘Guard your heart with all your power; because the heart of man is the wellspring of life.’ By William Van Zyl – a short story (only 2450 words). *Listen to the story on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qmny8-1043858-pb&from=embed&square=1&share=1&download=1&skin=1&btn-skin=7&size=300 At 11:16 on Wednesday, June 19, 2016, several deafening pistol shots rang from a carpark in a Pretoria mall in… Continue reading A transplanted heart – unsettled by murder – makes a 180-degree turn into a blinding light.
Entering a dark, humid cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down.
By William Van Zyl (March 2021) On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Yellow cat-eyes stared at me from the ground. It was evenly spaced and extended way ahead of me. Where could it lead? It took some time for my sensitive eyes to adapt… Continue reading Entering a dark, humid cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down.
Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
By William Van Zyl Thinking of the sustainability of a cave is not something that comes to mind naturally. It requires prompts: What choice of materials is best for constructing the walkways? What type of lighting is best? Could the electrical system of the cave be powered via solar power? To what extent could sensors,… Continue reading Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
Hickory, Dickory, Fig Tree – I ask of you – can you hear me?
By William Van Zyl (July 2021) Listen to the podcast of this article (listen while you read): https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gvr28-116868b Hickory, Dickory, Tree – Dockerty, Hockerty, Dock. A mouse Hickory Dickory Tree. The mouse went up the tree.The tree said no: “Not allowed.” The bark made it itch The mouse immediately went downHickory Dickory TreeTick tock, tick… Continue reading Hickory, Dickory, Fig Tree – I ask of you – can you hear me?