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By William Van Zyl
Published in November 2022.
Readers are Leaders, goes the saying. Are we reading enough to lead our young children into the future?
“I am not going to suffocate my children with literacy and numeracy. I don’t care what people – and even teachers – say. I want my children to be creative and innovative,” said the agitated mother.
“My kids come home from school, and they express their boredom. When I ask them what they have done at school that day, they sigh and say nothing. Do you want me to build on that ?”
“So, you have a different approach, and what would that be? Tell me?” asked the irritated schoolteacher.
“Give them freedom. Let them fly. Do not kill their creativity with large doses of literacy and numeracy.”
“And how do you want me to do that? What do you know, I am a trained professional,” responded the teacher with fire in her eyes.
“Give them each an individual and group project – let them choose – ask them to solve a problem individually and in small groups. Give them microprocessors, and simple computing problems, and mix art and STEM into the lesson plan. At the same time, let them listen to music while working. Go deeper and look at codes, biology, and anatomy. For goodness sake, hide the literacy and numeracy behind the fun! Expect more from the kids. Raise your expectations of them. Cut them loose!”
“We have been instructed to build their capacity for literacy and numeracy, and once we have laid that foundation, we will progress to the extravagant ideas you have just mentioned.”
“In the meantime, they are starving, suffocating, under wave after wave of literacy and numeracy that washes over them,” said the mother with her hands on her hips.
“I guess it will take a while to lay the foundation,” said the teacher.
“Why don’t you include the basics of AI, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced virtual reality, cloud services, big data, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, cyber security, quantum computing, hyper-personalisation, chatbots, smart assistants, smart cities, computational chemistry, and fingerprints. It sounds too advanced, but why don’t you provide the prompts? That is why I homeschool my children.”
Does that conversation sound familiar? Well, it gives us a lot to think about. The big question is, are we doing enough to embed digital technology into our curriculums? Are we 21-st century focused? Should we include problem-based and project-based learning? And what about culturally responsive teaching (CRT)? The world is a global village. The students in our classes are represented from all the world’s different cultures.
As a parent, are you contributing to developing your child’s creative and innovative abilities? Parents and caregivers must be switched on, know what students are doing at school, and make an intentional contribution. Parents and caregivers should be readers. Understand what is needed to support the school’s efforts to educate students for the future.
Are you informed?
Regarding creativity and innovation – considering nurture versus nature – parents and caregivers should play a more active role in their children’s education. We know from experience that we are born with natural gifts and talents. However, we also remember the positive – or negative – words we heard as children.
“You are awesome; you are a natural!”
OR
“You are amazing. You have hung in there, and look at you now. You have developed so much skill!.”
OR
‘You can do it, it is not one of your strengths, but hey, you are a winner. Just continue to work at it. Soon you will reap the rewards.”
We all use those words to support and encourage our children.
Sometimes, we underestimate the power of words.
I grew up in a simple environment. Nothing extravagant. We had the most important things we needed. Love, being valued, and being showered with positive words filled our days. Those affirmative words are surrounding us as children are still ringing in my ears today. They are compelling and bring about results.
“You are a great artist! You are very clever, and your math is great; excellent essay; wow, you are such a scientist; you are so strong and resilient; you can do anything!”
Yes, those last words are the most influential ones.
I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 13. Berean Standard Bible.
My parents have always spoken positive words of affirmation for us—all the time. I am trying to remember a single negative phrase, but I can’t. It made a significant impact on our lives.
I am convinced that encapsulating children with positive words, unconditional love, and words of affirmation will instil confidence, a belief in themselves, a belief in God and a positive attitude towards solving problems and serving others will unleash their creative and innovative forces.
I have included an example of such a digital-rich lesson below.
Table of Contents
Aquaponics and the Internet of Things.
Aquaponics system. See the several options to use in this lesson on the AZ animals website. https://a-z-animals.com/reviews/top-aquaponics-fish-tank-in-2022-is/
Embedding digital technology in a science-rich context. WiFi and Bluetooth communication via one of the following IoT platforms:
Google Cloud IoT Core.
IBM Watson IoT Platform.
Datadog.
AWS IoT Analytics.
ThingsBoard.
SensorCloud.
Elastic Observability.
Ubidots.
Overview of the system:
Aquaponics include a freshwater fish tank and a microgreens greenhouse on top of the tank. A microbit, smart science kit with digital sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.) is installed to mitigate the sensitive system. The IoT act as the communication system via WiFi, Bluetooth and an app to visualise the fluctuations in the aquaponics system.
Aquaponics system:
Simple freshwater fish tank. Size: 80 cm x 400 cm x 500 cm. Include the basics: Filtration system (charcoal), air pump, and thermostat with submersible electric heaters. A mini greenhouse filled with microgreens will sit atop the aquarium. A mini system is included to control the greenhouse’s temperature, humidity, and moisture.
Communication via the WiFi, Bluetooth and IoT systems:
The smart science kit and the Microbit are WiFi and Bluetooth compatible. The IoT system: After registering an account, a free user and password will allow the Microbit and smart kit to communicate with the person managing the aquaponics system. A compatible app will be required. So, monitoring and managing will be possible from anywhere in the world.
The IoT provider allows the user to copy and paste a URL (simple website) the link to the real-time data anywhere on the internet. They are allowing students and parents to view the data.
Three things to embed in the lesson to make it soar (Hammond, 2015):
- Gamify it. Students can create an aquaponics system in Minecreaft Education. Automate it using Redstone and other actuators (moving arms).
- Make it social and collaborative. Design groups that will gel and assist one another. Consider combining strengths. Have a competition or challenge.
- Storify it: Let student write creative stories (fiction) as they are inspired by their Minecraft worlds (aquaponics context).
Give them wings. Let them fly.
Dashboard from Thingsboard (IoT platform). Souce: https://github.com/thingsboard/thingsboard
Streaming live images of the system:
Additionally, a camera could stream the entire system. It means one van view the fish and micro-greens via the IoT dashboard.
Cultural Responsive Learning:
Indigenous freshwater fish and microgreens can be used in the project—for example, long-fin eels in a New Zealand context. Consider all the different cultures represented in class. What are their interests and background? Include it in the lesson.
Digital sensors connected to the Microbit:
- The digital sensors ( Smart Science Kit for Microbit) are connected to the Microbit and placed inside the mini greenhouse.
Temperature sensor submersed in the fish tank.
Digital tools:
Microbit V2 (microprocessor)
Smart Science Kit (Microbit compatible) with several digital sensors and an actuator (servo).
IoT platform
App downloaded to a mobile phone or another digital device.
Readers are Leaders, goes the saying. Are we reading enough to lead our young children into the future?
Reference:
Hammond, Z. (2015). 3 Tips to Make Any Lesson More Culturally Responsive. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/culturally-responsive-teaching-strategies/
Copyright © 2022 by William Van Zyl
Do these things – right now – to elevate creativity and innovation.
All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
without the publisher’s express written permission, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, November 2022
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/
More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
