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The Canobolas Rural Technology High School

 

 

The Canobolas Rural Technology
High School

The Canobolas Rural Technology High School (CRTHS) is
located in the town of Orange in western New South Wales. Situated in a rural area, CRTHS focuses on using technology in a rural context that provides real meaning to students.

Arduinos in the classroom

There are many ways in which Arduinos can add value and
engagement to the classroom. At CRTHS we used Arduinos as a vehicle to introduce the idea of integrated Science, Technology
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects to students from our feeder primary schools as part of a coordinated transition program. Apart from injecting excitement in to the study of these subjects it provided students with the opportunity to develop 21st century skills such as creativity and collaboration that would assist their transition into high school.

Arduinos in the classroom

First steps

Getting started with Arduinos in the classroom takes some time
but the rewards are worth the effort. One of the best parts about working with "maker" technologies is that you can be a co-learner with your students right from the time you open the box. I recommend both you and your students make use of the support material available from the T4L team to make getting started with Arduinos easy.

Linking it to the curriculum

The flexibility of Arduinos mean they are the perfect vehicle for an integrated STEM project, providing the basis for a student driven solution to a Problem-Based Learning unit spanning the curriculum. In our rural context, there is also great scope for these technologies to be used within the Science and Agriculture classroom. Using an Arduino as the driver of a Smart Farm is something that is currently on our radar.

Useful Links

To get started with an Arduino, take a look at the following websites as a source of ideas and getting started resources:

- Innovation Toolbox
- Future.Tech Arduino

Student responses

Throughout this project, students were able to become not just
consumers, but creators of technology solutions as they used Arduinos to create a solution to a real problem. The hands-on nature of the tasks appealed to students as their coding and work on computers jumped outside the screen, creating a tangible product. Take a look at our Film Pond production - 'The Canobolas STEM Transition Network' for a full insight in to their exciting program.

Tips and tricks in the ET4L environment

  1. Make sure you check out the support documentation linked above to overcome any initial technical hurdles
  2. Sometimes the Arduino may not connect immediately to your computer. Disconnecting and then reconnecting the board can sometimes provide a quick and easy solution.
  3. Don't think that you need to purchase the biggest and best kit to get started with Arduinos. A simple collection of LED lights, jumper leads, a breadboard and resistors can provide all you need for an introductory project that will have a huge impact on students and their learning.

Working with Arduino

About the Author

I am the Head Teacher STEM at The Canobolas Rural Technology High School. Engaging students in activities that not only meet the needs of the curriculum, but enables students to develop a passion for learning and solving problems, drives me to work with STEM based technologies. I am driven to continue to reinvigorate my own learning to ensure my students are ready for anything the world can throw at them.

NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE