STEM Education – Page 2 – Five House Publishing

LESSON: Use the work of an influential designer to inform design ideas. Design a Moon-base on Minecraft Education – focus on Aesthetics and Function.

By William Van Zyl (Published in April 2022). Design Brief: Design a Moon-dwelling or a Moon-base (in your groups or individually) on Minecraft Education. Use the work of an architect considering aesthetics (beauty). But, more importantly, functionality. Choose an Architectural Design Era or Style (for example, Modernism, Minimalism, Hi-Tech. and more). Also, embed sustainability and… Continue reading LESSON: Use the work of an influential designer to inform design ideas. Design a Moon-base on Minecraft Education – focus on Aesthetics and Function.

Introducing the Arduino Uno – a pioneering digital framework – to prepare students for 21-st century problem-solving. Five Journal Entries – A critical reflection.

By William Van Zyl (March 5, 2022) Referencing this article: Van Zyl, W. N. (2022). Introducing the Arduino Uno – a pioneering digital framework – to prepare students for 21st-century problem-solving. Five Journal Entries – A critical reflection. Five House Publishing. https://fivehousepublishing.com/2022/03/25/introducing-the-arduino-uno-a-pioneering-digital-framework-to-prepare-students-for-21-st-century-problem-solving-five-journal-entries-a-critical-reflection-%ef%bf%bc/ Abstract: After reflecting on my own practice as a secondary school teacher in… Continue reading Introducing the Arduino Uno – a pioneering digital framework – to prepare students for 21-st century problem-solving. Five Journal Entries – A critical reflection.

21-st Century Skills: Are students being prepared to solve real-life problems?

By William Van Zyl (Published March 2022). Abstract: One of the most important questions you can ask educators is ‘Are you preparing students for the 21-st century?’ From research, we know what those critical aspects are: Students should be able to be critical thinkers, able to find creative solutions, able to do extensive collaboration, and… Continue reading 21-st Century Skills: Are students being prepared to solve real-life problems?

Minecraft Lesson: Create a Minecraft Character to contain a USB Drive. Making freehand sketches with dimensions. Use SketchUp (3D Warehouse) & TinkerCad (3D printing) to prepare the file for 3D printing.

By William Van Zyl – Published 2018 Learning intention: To learn how to make 3-D sketches in third angle orthographic projection. To learn how to use SketchUp (software) to design a skin (minecraft character). To learn how to prepare a 3-D print for a 3-D printer. Learn how to use TinkerCad (software – prepare 3-D… Continue reading Minecraft Lesson: Create a Minecraft Character to contain a USB Drive. Making freehand sketches with dimensions. Use SketchUp (3D Warehouse) & TinkerCad (3D printing) to prepare the file for 3D printing.

Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force

‘Science and spiritual life parallels.’ By William Van Zyl (2020) True North My bones and muscles are feeling weak. I don’t feel any pull; The influence of magnetic North is waning. But wait—I feel something… It is unfamiliar. ———-0——— To go with the flow or to resist? – that is the question. What is this… Continue reading Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force

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 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 to the… 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).

Helium Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Our New Jellyfish and Alien ‘Space Killers’ of the Future?

By William Van Zyl (Published in 2020) Essay: Soft bait is a silent killer. Synthetic fishing lures have been developed to catch any type of freshwater and saltwater fish. Designers and manufacturers have spent large amounts of money, time, and resources, on creating the most effective lures and soft baits. Soft bait is so effective… Continue reading Helium Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Our New Jellyfish and Alien ‘Space Killers’ of the Future?

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.

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).

One Flew over the Bionic Flying Fox’s Nest.

By William Van Zyl (June 2021) Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn,Apple seed and apple thorn,Wire, briar, limber lockThree geese in a flockOne flew EastOne flew WestAnd one flew over the Bionic Flying Fox’s nest. ———————-0—————————– In the artificial nest lay two eggs – not a bird in sight. Below the nest – and interwoven in the… Continue reading One Flew over the Bionic Flying Fox’s Nest.

In the Ice Cold Belly of the Golden Dragon, it Rumbles, Spins, and Twirls. Light Atoms Spark and Flash – the almost Frozen Creature is at Work.

By William Van Zyl (April 2021) Icy cold vapour is trapped in the belly of the Golden Dragon. The temperature is below – 200 degrees –Celsius. The tummy is cool; some of the parts are thoroughly chilled. The intestines are frozen solid. The light and atoms – in the underbelly – are subjected to the… Continue reading In the Ice Cold Belly of the Golden Dragon, it Rumbles, Spins, and Twirls. Light Atoms Spark and Flash – the almost Frozen Creature is at Work.

In the Ice Cold Belly of the Golden Dragon, it Rumbles, Spins, and Twirls. Light Atoms Spark and Flash – the almost Frozen Creature is at Work.

By William Van Zyl (April 2021) Icy cold vapour is trapped in the belly of the Golden Dragon. The temperature is below –200 degrees Celsius. The tummy is cool, very cool. The intestines are frozen. Light and atoms are subjected to the cold. But, it is at this temperature that the beast obeys. It follows… Continue reading In the Ice Cold Belly of the Golden Dragon, it Rumbles, Spins, and Twirls. Light Atoms Spark and Flash – the almost Frozen Creature is at Work.

How can a quartz crystal ‘pace’ a clock? On the other hand, how can a belief ‘pace’ a human being?

By William Van Zyl Published in 2021, April 20. Tick, tock, tick, tock, … you are reading a time-clock. Isn’t that just stunning? I mean in one second you have to count from 1 to 32,768 – it is humanly impossible. It is this vibration that has me in awe in this article. Wait for… Continue reading How can a quartz crystal ‘pace’ a clock? On the other hand, how can a belief ‘pace’ a human being?

Tardigrades and Radiotrophic Fungi – death-defiers and demon-destroyers.

By William Van Zyl Podcast of this article. Listen while you read OR just listen: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5n4bm-1010cab July 2032 “As all the countries of the world are aware, an asteroid had been detected on radar for some time now. Black rock and ice are hurtling towards earth. We have an emergency!” said the radio host in… Continue reading Tardigrades and Radiotrophic Fungi – death-defiers and demon-destroyers.

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).

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) Entering a dark, humid cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down. Listen to the podcast link: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vbeeq-feb056 On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Yellow cat-eyes stared at me from… Continue reading Entering a Dark, Humid Cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down.

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 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, a Led (light),… 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 QUARTZ CRYSTAL VIBRATES AT AN AMAZING 32,768 TIMES PER SECOND – A SERIES OF FLIP-FLOPS TAKE IT TO ONLY 1 PULSE PER SECOND.

The amazing world of science: How the intervention of humans takes quartz crystal technology to the next level. The miracle of quartz crystal technology. By William Van Zyl Tick, tock, tick, tock, … you are reading a time-clock. In scientific terms 32,768 Hertz Isn’t that just stunning? I mean in one second you have to… Continue reading A QUARTZ CRYSTAL VIBRATES AT AN AMAZING 32,768 TIMES PER SECOND – A SERIES OF FLIP-FLOPS TAKE IT TO ONLY 1 PULSE PER SECOND.

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.

Learn Technology through Arts and Crafts. STEM Project-Based Learning. Lesson objectives: 1. Research and investigate simple electrical circuits 2. Design a simple greeting card containing a Led light (or more) that could light up 3. Develop artistic skills (arts and crafts). Explore cardmaking ideas 4. Learn how a coin battery, copper tape (sticky), a switch, and a… 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.