Category Uncategorized
Is Your Middle-Schooler READY for a SMARTPHONE?
The answer may be surprising because a child’s readiness for a smartphone is usually based on behavior only peripherally connected to the internet. Does he do his assigned chores? Does she get up for school on time? Do they only use the iPad for homework and educational games? A student’s maturity level does count for some of the […]
Public funding for private education doesn’t ADD UP
“FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, the legislature in Lansing is attempting to fund private schools with taxpayer funds”… VIEW this 3 minute video with Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, and learn what you need to know! Video transcript: “Last year the attempt failed early in the House of Representatives. This year the […]
‘ALIEN TECH’: The VIRTUAL Becomes REALITY with a 3D printer
Daniel Alspach, a senior at Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, pushed his chair away from his Computer Aided Design (CAD) of a car body, and gestured to the school’s new Afinia H800 3D printer. The image on his screen would emerge as solid car parts from the printer, enabling Daniel and his team to build a […]
The F♥RCE Awakens…And We Are Ready!
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters around the world today, giving all of us on social media an opportunity to massively trend-jack the hype centering on this movie’s long-awaited premiere. “May The Force Be With You” – possibly the most powerful movie quote of modern time – has been waiting to re-emerge (along […]
Back-to-School with Social Media: What’s On Your PARENT Checklist?
LOVE it or DREAD it, back to school is exciting! Teachers prepare new classroom materials while we parents flock to Target to buy our kids new tennis shoes and every single thing on our children’s school supply checklists (because NO ONE wants to fail out of the gate over a missing zippered binder!). However, somewhere […]
The OSTC Summer Camp Experience: STEM, Cars and Cooking!
SUMMER CAMP for Oakland County High School Students: Enroll NOW! Oakland Schools Technical Campuses are offering Oakland County teens a chance to have a high-tech, hands-on summer experience in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), culinary arts and auto repair. These exciting camps fill quickly, so register soon. ******* ENGINEERING / EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES CAMP at OSTC Click Here to DOWNLOAD FLYER PDF LOCATION: Northeast Campus […]
Our Kids Know Something We Don’t…
UPDATE: Click to view the PRESENTATION, or to download the HELP SHEET! Our kids know something we don’t… It’s been part of their world for as long as they can remember… It powers their communication, their school work, their friendships, their love life… Sometimes it TURNS on them with global force. Sometimes they unleash it on themselves… Because […]
Working Together for Public Education 2015
The recent election in Michigan has underscored the need for all partisan corners to pull together in support of our school children. What can you do to help Michigan schools mend? Superintendent of Oakland Schools, Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch, talks about the importance of citizen voices in public education policy-making in her new podcast… Click […]
Teaching While Connected: My Google Glass Experiment
“Our students will be earning a living as adults in a world that MOVES”… Julie Alspach: Last year about this time, I attended the MiGoogle conference and listened to Andrew Vander Heuvel talk about his experience with Google Glass. The innovation of Google Glass inspired me to apply to be a Google Glass Explorer. At […]
Frankenstein’s Magic Formula: Modern Mechatronics!
WHAT HAPPENS when you combine electronic and mechanical systems with information technology, teachers with engineering experience and a roomful of curious high school students? What happens is a magic Frankenstein-ian formula for success called MECHATRONICS! Mechatronics is an integrated engineering practice responsible for ‘smart’ machinery (think robotics, sensors, new homes, surgical tools and toys). In […]
Oakland Schools ~ Michigan 