Recent Posts | OpenSTEM Pty Ltd

People of ENIAC: early digital computer programmers

http://www.phillyvoice.com/70-years-ago-six-philly-women-eniac-digital-computer-programmers/

Without any real training, they learned what it took to make ENIAC work – and made it a humming success. Their contributions were overlooked for decades.

ENIAC, one of the world’s early digital computers (Colossus in the UK was earlier, for example), unveiled 70 years ago Sunday at the University of Pennsylvania, had six primary programmers: Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas and Ruth Lichterman. They were initially called “operators.”

In this video, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli talks about her time in the 1940’s learning about the ENIAC. She was one of a group of 6 women who were recruited to program this electronic computer.

Please note that the referenced article’s title incorrectly declares ENIAC to be the world’s first electronic computer. This is historically incorrect, with Colossus at Bletchley Park in the UK used for code breaking during WWII, and Konrad Zuse’s Z2 / Z3 in Germany.

Gravitational waves have been detected, Einstein was right | Science Alert

http://www.sciencealert.com/live-update-big-gravitational-wave-announcement-is-happening-right-now

After 100 years of searching, an international team of physicists has confirmed the existence of Einstein’s gravitational waves, marking one of the biggest astrophysical discoveries of the past century. It’s a huge deal, because it not only improves our understanding of how the Universe works, it also opens up a whole new way of studying it.

Free Robotics Incursion in Brisbane Area

If your school or homeschool group is based in our around the Brisbane area, we can visit with our robotic caterpillar and other critters as part of our FREE Robotics Incursion.

The caterpillar has quickly become our main mascot, as students, teachers and parents take a liking to it! It is an autonomous robot, with a 3D printed frame and Arduino controlled electronics.

The OpenSTEM caterpillar design and code are fully open and also serve as a good example of how subjects such as robotics can be explored at relatively low cost – that is, without expensive branded kits. This can be a real enabler for both school and home.

For more details on what we cover and do on this incursion, see the Robotics Incursion page, or contact us to discuss!

Curriculum Samples

Responding to popular request, we have now made our FREE sample resource PDFs available directly from a page: Curriculum Samples in our new Curriculum overview section.

This means that you don’t have to login or fill in any details to download these files.

We make these free watermarked samples available at no charge so that you are able to see and assess the quality of our materials.

History and Geography for Primary program

OpenSTEM’s History and Geography for Primary program provides an integrated curriculum implementation, which aims to provide holistic learning for students in both Key Learning Areas. By integrating History and Geography, not only is the level of engagement higher, as students are able to gain a more rounded understanding of processes in places through time, but the time needed for teaching is optimised.

With complete lesson plans!

Australian Curriculum

The program is tailored exactly to the requirements of the Australian Curriculum so that all curriculum strands in both curricula are addressed efficiently. The focus is on providing a broad overview of global events and then focussing in on specific issues. A particular focal point, as determined by the Australian Curriculum, is Australian History, with Aboriginal History, sustainability and the environment as important foci as well.

Our Approach

Student engagement is the primary aim of this curriculum implementation and a range of activities ensure that learning takes place in a very hands-on and multimodal way.

Scientific research has identified that children are more engaged, with better retention of information, when a range of input stimuli are provided. In particular, visual and kinaesthetic methods of input have the broadest range of uptake of information in pre-puberty age groups. OpenSTEM’s blend of activities and resources addresses these methods directly.

The material is designed so as to provide for flexibility in use. Teachers can choose to utilise the individual resources within their own teaching framework, or they can choose to use the detailed weekly lesson plans as laid out in the Teacher Handbook. A Student Workbook is also provided, with a continual assessment option, to complete the package.

OpenSTEM uses particular techniques (such as coloured words within the text) which address a range of learning styles and have been shown to increase focus for students with concentration challenges.

Availability

The term 1 teacher units and supporting resources are now available, and already in use by some schools. Additional units and resources are made available progressively during this first year of this program, and updated thereafter.

You may purchase individual teacher units and resource PDFs, or subscribe (from an individual teacher or family to an entire school) and get the teacher units at half price and the resource PDFs for free!

You can also download some sample PDFs (at no cost, no login/details required) so that you are able to see and assess the quality of our materials.

If you need more information and for any questions you may have, please contact us.

Cross-curricular options

OpenSTEM’s History and Geography program provides a range of cross-curricular options. In particular Science extensions are provided to address the Science curriculum. Some aspects of the Mathematics curriculum also follow naturally from this material.

These cross-curricular components help students apply newly learnt concepts and skills in a broader context.

Multi-Year-Level

OpenSTEM materials are designed to be adapted for use in multi-year level classrooms. Suggested implementations for multi-year level classes are provided in the Teacher Handbook for each unit.

In some cases the same resources and topics are used by different year levels and it is the depth of understanding and analysis required which is all that changes between the year levels. The Student Workbook for each unit reflects the differing requirements for different year levels. Using this structure, the teacher is not trying to teach different material simultaneously in order to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Homeschoolers

Homeschooling parents also have great flexibility in their use of this material. The program is designed to be easily adaptable for the homeschooling situation. Parents can choose to use the resources within their own program, or allow the student to explore the material as their interest leads them. Alternatively, the parent can use the Teacher Handbook and Student Workbook to provide a series of lessons, knowing they will thus match all the curriculum requirements.

Non-linear learners can approach the student workbook in a non-linear fashion, referring to the matching resources as required in order to engage with the material. Using this material, the parent can tailor the learning to match the speed, abilities and particular challenges of each student.

The potential for extension and acceleration will suit students with those particular needs, whilst the shift between broad and narrow focus in the resources will provide consolidation for those students who need more time to work through learning material.

Introducing Aunt Madge’s Suitcase Activity

Oh no! Aunt Madge has gone off on her holiday around the world and left one of her suitcases behind!

She has sent a note to you to please bring her the suitcase, she has also sent a ticket so that you can fly after her to take her the suitcase.

School students need to help Aunt Madge by taking her suitcase to her. She has left a clue to where she is.

This Activity Resource consists of 3 PDFs with instructions, colour photos of locations around the world, a custom map for each location, and detailed descriptions.

Suitable for all school age year levels. We recommend using a globe in the classroom in addition to the OpenSTEM blackline world map so children get used to different projections. For home use, you can also use an atlas or other wall map, of course.

Also used in OpenSTEM’s Integrated History & Geography Program, this is a practical and fun activity to get kids relating to geography and learning about the world. There’s unlimited scope for building on, with (for instance) the child’s own friends and family members travelling or living overseas.

The Aunt Madge’s Suitcase Activity resource is available FREE for OpenSTEM Subscribers ($25 for non-subscribers). You can also download samples of some of our resources, to see and assess the quality of OpenSTEM materials for yourself before subscribing.