I would think it would be available to such...

Just give the school's address, that should be enough.

Thank you. :-)

Communications & Technical learning at college level
Boy Scout Scoutmaster too

I teach English to 10th graders.

I keep sending instructables to my teacher friend where I work (we are jr. college teachers) for her MIMIC class, students make a product and market it and then have a fair and sell it.
I teach computers....

Let them know about the free membership available - have a look at the updated topic.

They were having a MIMIC fair today! Every year I tell her they should go to instructables for ideas..........I did send her information on the free membership. Smile. Thank you!
I lost my flip video, but I still have a day or so to finish my catwalk instructable for the contest, I'm excited!
I think MIMIC means Make Industry Meaningful I C maybe in college?

Language arts and Social Sudies, ages: 8-9. Third Grade.

Technology 11 to 18 although retired last year.

Cool - I've been trying to switch to tech for a while, but schools in my area are cutting back - they can hire experienced staff for MPS rates.

Most schools fit it very hard to get D&T teachers, there has been a shortage for about 10 years.

Whilst I was there we advertised and only had 5 applicants, none of whom were really suitable.

My school has still not replaced me after a year They fill the gap with a semi permanent supply teacher.

Where schools are looking at technology status or moving to a technology based academy you will find they look for skilled teachers with a strong practical basis.

It can be interesting if you put in the time and effort to do things that are beyond the basics to keep the kids interested otherwise not many are that motivated by anything that takes time to complete or skills that can only be learned by practice.

Still I likes it.

I really am a teacher and brand spankin' new to this site. I teach astronomy and earth science at our local high school. Most of my earth science kids are "academically at-risk" freshman, while most of my astronomy kids are sophomores and juniors who don't have the math levels for chem or physics but need a physical lab science as a college entrance requirement. Both sets of kids thrive when given a project that involves kinetic learning processes.

Cool - have you found anything useful here yet, or are you going to publish your own projects?

Hopefully both in the near future; I haven't had a chance to troll around much yet. Saturday was my first day here EVER.

Hi Kiteman

I just (as in last week) signed up and used my P card (what we call our expense credit card from the school) to get a pro membership.

I teach metal arts at a special ed vocational high school in the GTA, Ontario.

Do you have a "teacher area" or a "tour for teachers" for this site?

Also, I'm not sure this is the proper spot for me to be posting all this...

mea culpa!

sue

Southbaysue: have a look at this Instructable, which was written with you in mind.

There isn't a dedicated area for teachers, but there are some Guides (collections of up to a dozen or so I'bles) with projects related to classroom work, and there is a "Classroom" Group with some resources.

again, thank you kelseymh. you're a fountain of knowledge and im hoping to propose you mentor me on this site... ok. i'm not so much hoping to propose it, i just did... mentor me?

I think you'll find that there are a bunch of people willing to help you out and give you some guidance in navigating this, er, interesting place! Kiteman, Goodhart, NachoMahma, Caitlinsdad, Lithium Rain, etc. are all willing to step up and tell you what to do help out :-) If you've got technical electronics or engineering questions, Steveastrouk (capitalize the A and U :-) is probably one of the best folks we've got.

Anyway, if we haven't said so yet (and even if we have), welcome to Instructables!

.  Hi, Sue, and welcome to Ibles.
.
.  I don't remember seeing a Tour For Teachers or a Teachers' Area, but you may be able to find a Group aimed at teachers/educators and/or Special Ed.
.
.  If your comment was aimed specifically at Kiteman, then a PM might have been better than posting a public comment that bozos like me can read. If it was an open request for info, then starting a new topic would have been a good idea.
.  You didn't break any rules or step on any toes by posting here, but you might have received a larger audience by starting a new topic.

gawd, i'm sorry, but what is a "PM"? cause i will definitely do one or get one or make one...

Kiteman seems like a guru of sorts, and i've seen your monniker around quite a bit too, so i have to say i feel really supported here so far and am even making my first project from an ible i saw last night! (i could NOT stop reading and today, duct tape is much safer for me to be working with than chopsaws and welders...) i digress...

"PM" is a "Private Message" - click on any user's name, and look to the left of the screen for a button to send one - it's like an on-site email.

_{Guru, eh...?}

ahhhh! oh-TAY! Now we're cookin with gas! thanks wise one... (wise ONES, actually...)
=Q>

Nobody...nobody ever called me a guru...

>sobs<

The title is earned, but hey, you have been quite a mentor of sorts to me....so you are well on your way :-)

I meant that as a compliment, even if it didn't sound as such

KLAATU BARADA GURU, happy now? Please do not destroy us.

I'm quite surprised! Lots of people must have called you a gurl before getting smacked...oh, wait, that's a "u" :-)

Well, you've got the hair for it, now you just need to get a set of robes the same color as your avatar's background.... The kids'll love it!

>Ommm<

_TING!

.  Private Message. Click on a user's name and that will take you to their profile page. Look under their avatar and click on the "Private Message" button.
.
.  Kiteman and I have both been around here for quite a while. I'm sure you will find that there are very many helpful ppl here. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Unless it's something personal, ask your questions in public so we all can learn.

"PM" is the abbreviation here for "private message." It's effectively e-mail, but only internal to Instructables, with limited functionality (text only; no attachments, images, etc., and no CC).

If you click on a username, you'll be taken to their "profile." Under their picture on the left side you'll see a button labelled "private message."

It does say Scout Leaders or other type of educators. If Scout Leaders are included, I'm assuming us home educators are, too.

Drop them a line anyway - the worst they can do is say "no".

Yes, it is.

Canida wrote is as teachers at instructables dot com to stop software robots picking up the address and sending it spam.

Drop them a line, then.

It's worth a punt - whoever is in charge of liaising with schools, or of preparing exhibits, get them to send an email to the address above.

The worst they can do is say "no".

yup for sure, if they don't I'll give them a couple of mine i have in excess.

Get her to join the site and send the email, I think she would qualify.

(Check your Inbox as well)

What has the response been like?

What is the next move?

There is clearly a demand for teachers' resources (my second guide has had over 10k kits in only a month - some of my actual Instructables took several years to get that many).

Currently, at the elementary school level, in NYC from what I have observed, teachers are scared for their jobs and will not deviate from the prescribed lesson plan/requirements that are approved by the Board of Education. They are too busy focused on just getting the kids to take the mandated exams which account for a big part of their performance standard.

Sadly, any creative input to the system would be difficult and as well in trying to find talented teachers willing to implement instructables as part of or supporting the curriculum.  Probably against union rules and with arts - all crafts are gone - being slashed, those trying to  implement some studies with ibles would be out on their own.  Those schools with gifted and talented special classes do not share the same enrichment classes with the rest.

I do not rule out there are opportunities out there but it will be hard to rally the troops with just a forum topic and word of mouth.  They may need to work on some handouts at the Maker Faire or have a pdf to hand out, maybe special answers segment for teachers, document case studies(one teacher did PM about building a giant toothbrush for their health fair) etc.

Wow, that's just a waste! They tie the hands of the people who really want to help kids! Bassackwards, if you ask me.

I'm at a really great school and we can do whatever keeps the kids engaged and in school and out of jail or off the streets.

My principal is very forward thinking that way, and stands up to the board pretty well. He's an artist, so that has a lot to do with it...

Ouch. I can sympathise there.

For myself and my immediate colleagues, our school is closing next July, which gives us some bizarre freedom.

More than once this week, I have heard teachers discussing unusual ideas for lessons, with the comment "What can they do?  Close us?"

For getting teachers involved, though, maybe a flyer could be sent by snail-mail to the technology / art / science / shop teachers of high schools in various areas.

Maybe start with schools local to HQ, and invite them to come look around the office, get their accounts set up there and then.

Or maybe a PDF form could be created for members to print off and deliver to local schools or give to their own teachers?

>doh<

I have now instructed the boys to tell their teachers about this topic.

THIS GUY'S LEGIT.

Pfft. Not!

I so am! =O By the way, that comment double-posted.

Yeah, there is a glitch with posting right after you posted

Eugh double post, I'll just delete it now...

Yeah