A great physical science education tool isn’t just exciting while you’re using it; it continues to provoke thought and make real-world connections well after you’ve placed it back on the shelf. Case in point: I recently spent time exploring Pitsco’s T-Bot® Hydraulic Arm. It was a fun challenge using the hydraulic robot arm to pick up and move blocks, and I thought about links to automation and heavy machinery as I used it. But, to my surprise, after I put the device away, what I really couldn’t stop thinking about was my own arm.
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Topics:
IN THE CLASSROOM,
Middle School,
Elementary School,
High School,
ROBOTICS,
Teacher Resources,
Science,
Technology,
STEM,
Authentic Learning,
Activities,
Hands-on Learning
My favorite part in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is when Clark Griswold’s 250 strands of lights on his house finally turn on. If you haven’t seen Christmas Vacation, Clark decorates his entire house – and I mean the ENTIRE house – with holiday lights. He brings out his whole family to see the lights all turn on at once. But, as he brings the two power cords together to turn it on, nothing happens. Later, after his wife flips the correct switch, all the lights flicker on, lighting up basically the whole city. A holiday miracle!
Although we might not go as all out as Griswold on our holiday lights, they’re a key piece in building the holiday spirit. And, as we’re getting into the holiday cheer at Pitsco, what better way to brighten our spirits than by learning the ins and outs of a string of lights?!
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Topics:
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM,
IDEAS & INSPIRATION,
Science,
Technology,
STEM,
Engineering,
Activities,
Hands-on Learning,
Art
Since its founding in 1998, the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) in Philadelphia has earned a fair amount of publicity for the spectacular opportunities it offers to inner-city students. Sneak a peek during the school’s Build A Dream summer program, and you’re likely to see students learning about engines, designing cars, and racing go-karts as part of a simulated racing team.
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Topics:
Middle School,
High School,
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM,
Competitions,
Science,
STEM,
Dragsters,
Engineering,
Careers,
Authentic Learning,
Activities,
Future Ready,
21st Century Skills,
Maker Ed,
Hands-on Learning,
STEAM,
Workforce Development,
Art
It’s the greatest time of year! And no, I’m not talking about that kind of wintery holiday season. It’s National STEM/STEAM Day on November 8, a day dedicated specifically to the love of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. As I said, the greatest time of year, especially for Pitsco!
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Topics:
Middle School,
Elementary School,
High School,
ROBOTICS,
Science,
Technology,
STEM,
Engineering,
Coding,
Authentic Learning,
Activities,
TETRIX Robotics,
Hands-on Learning,
STEAM,
innovate,
Inquiry-based Learning,
Art
Nobody at Pitsco quite remembers for sure, but legend has it that the T in T-Bot® Hydraulic Arm stands for team.
It makes sense. The four syringes that drive the robot’s hydraulically powered movement can be held and operated separately. Each syringe affects a different axis. This naturally lends itself to several possibilities for problem-solving activities with multiple students. With a group of four students, give each student a syringe, assign the group a pick-and-place task, and watch all four communicate, cooperate, and think critically to get the job done.
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Topics:
IN THE CLASSROOM,
Middle School,
High School,
Collaborations,
Technology,
STEM,
Engineering,
Authentic Learning,
21st Century Skills,
Hands-on Learning,
Math,
Workforce Development
