If you’ve ever played pinball, you know it’s a thrilling game in which a small ball bounces around unexpectedly, hitting bumpers and obstacles as it rushes toward points. But have you ever wondered why that ball bounces? It’s all about energy – more particularly, how energy changes and moves in a game like pinball.

In today’s session, we’ll look at the game of junior pinball using the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set, where we’ll learn about energy conversions and how to create the most unexpected pinball game possible!

Step 1: Energy Conversion – What’s It All About?

Everything around us has energy. You might know about kinetic energy (the energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy that has the potential to move). When you pull back the plunger in a pinball machine, you’re storing energy (potential energy). As you release the gear of the pinball machine, that energy turns into kinetic energy, making the ball fly around the board. The ball then hits bumpers, obstacles, and other elements, which cause the ball’s energy to change and transfer. So, the challenge here is to figure out how to make this energy transfer more unpredictable. Can you make the ball behave in exciting and unexpected ways? That’s where things get fun!

Energy Transformation and Dynamics in Pinball Play

• Releasing the Ball: When you release the plunger, the stored potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, propelling the ball across the playfield.
• Hitting Bumpers & Obstacles: When the ball strikes bumpers or ramps, its kinetic energy is transferred, changing its speed or direction, resulting in unpredictable movements.
• Flippers and Energy Control: When you click the buttons, the machine turns electrical energy into mechanical energy, which moves the flippers, pushing the ball and returning kinetic energy to it.
• Energy Dissipation: As the ball slows down, it loses some of its energy as heat and sound, particularly when it hits bumpers.

Step 2: The Junior Pinball Challenge – Let’s Build!

Our student’s mission is to create a junior pinball game that’s unpredictable using the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set. But how? By adjusting the energy flow, adding obstacles, and designing a way for the ball to bounce randomly!

Use the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ App to guide you through the process.

• Build and Test: Your first task is to program the game to start. How can you make the ball go where you want it to? What kind of energy transfer happens when it launches?
• Make It Unpredictable: Next, you’ll tweak your program to add some chaos. Add obstacles that change the ball’s direction and energy, making it harder to predict where it will go. You could add a flipper, bumper, or even an obstacle that sends the ball off in random directions. The key is to create surprise!
• Upgrade the Game: Want to make it even more challenging? Add more obstacles and fine-tune the energy transfer.

Step 3: Testing and Tweaking – What Works and What Doesn’t?

Once you’ve built and tested your game, it’s time to reflect. After each test, ask yourself:

• How did the obstacles affect the ball’s energy? Did it go where you expected it to go?
• Did your changes make the game even more challenging?
• What kind of obstacles worked best for changing the ball’s direction? How could you make the obstacles even more exciting?

Remember, pinball is all about surprise and speed. If you’re able to make your game more unpredictable, you’re doing it right! Get your hands on the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set, which is widely available in schools across Dubai and the Middle East.

Step 4: Reflect and Share – Let’s Talk About It

When everyone’s completed their challenges, gather together to reflect on the design. Share your experiences and ideas with the group. Did you use energy in a way that made the game exciting? What worked, and what could be improved?

Step 5: Wrapping Up – How You Can Level Up

Now, let’s talk about some ways you can level it up!

• Add more motors and sensors to control the speed of the ball. Can you make the ball go faster or slower depending on where it lands?
• Use new coding blocks to get the ball to behave even more unpredictably. How can you control the ball’s path in different ways?
• Refine the obstacles by trying to design new types of obstacles that could change the ball’s path or even stop it in its tracks.

This lesson is all about energy – how it’s converted, transferred, and changed to make something exciting happen, like a pinball game. You learned how to use coding and building skills to make a game that’s unpredictable, just like the real pinball machines.

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Video-based lessons are rapidly taking over in educational settings in the current digital era. This movement is a deliberate change that offers several economic advantages for instructors and schools, and it’s not just about convenience.

• Scalability and Accessibility: The ability to reach a significantly larger audience is one of the main benefits of video-based lessons. An infinite number of learners can receive a video lesson once it has been produced. This reduces the need for live instruction or physical classrooms, which lowers expenses for travel, classroom leases, and teacher pay. Additionally, these sessions are accessible to students at any time and from any location, increasing the flexibility of learning. Because they can learn at their own speed, they don’t require as much expensive one-on-one coaching or additional assistance.
• Time and Resource Efficiency: The fact that video-based classes save time, and money is another significant benefit. Making and presenting video classes can be more effective than traditional classroom instruction. Teachers can save time by reusing and repurposing content. Additionally, schools can save money on overhead expenses like supplies, utilities, and upkeep because physical classrooms are no longer necessary.
• Improved Engagement and Retention: Compared to traditional approaches, video-based lessons frequently provide a deeper learning experience. Videos can enhance learning through the use of animations, images, and interactive components. Research indicates that when knowledge is presented visually, students are more likely to pay attention and retain it. Better academic outcomes and a decreased need for remedial teaching may arise from this.
• Cost-Effective Production: The wonderful thing about making video-based classes now is that technology has significantly decreased in cost. Schools and individuals can now create high-quality material without going over budget thanks to the increased accessibility of video production equipment and software. It’s even more affordable because there are a ton of free and open-source tools for distribution, animation, and editing.

Empowering educators and students with AutoAuto

AutoAuto stands out as a leader in video-based STEM education. Offering a comprehensive platform, AutoAuto provides everything needed to create impactful video lessons and empower students to explore the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

• A Curriculum Tailored to All Levels: AutoAuto caters to a wide range of learning needs, offering courses suitable for students from elementary (3rd grade) all the way through college/university. This ensures that educators can find the perfect program to match their students’ age and skill level.
• Learning by Doing: AutoAuto goes beyond traditional video lectures by incorporating a project-based approach. Students master crucial skills like Python programming and Artificial Intelligence concepts by actively learning through hands-on projects.
• Two Learning Options: AutoAuto caters to both in-person and remote learning environments. Students can choose to utilize the hands-on AutoAuto cars (physical robots) or explore the concepts through the simulated version – a virtual car accessible to every student. This flexibility ensures adaptability and inclusivity.
• Engaging and Efficient for Educators: AutoAuto features a wealth of resources for educators, including video-based lessons, auto-graded challenges for student assessment, and a teacher’s portal to track progress and monitor learning outcomes. Additionally, AutoAuto offers free remote professional development sessions twice a year, ensuring educators are well-equipped to utilize the platform’s full potential.
• Beyond the Technology: AutoAuto provides more than just software. The platform also boasts a comprehensive curriculum available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, further demonstrating their commitment to global accessibility.
• Cost-Effective Choice: While the pricing information isn’t readily available on the website, the platform emphasizes its affordability by offering competitive plans and highlighting the benefits of video-based learning as a cost-effective educational approach.

Video-based lessons offer a clever and economical method of delivering instructional content. By leveraging the power of technology, schools and instructors can create engaging, memorable, and effective learning experiences for students of all ages, all while controlling costs. From scalability to improved engagement and versatility, the benefits of video-based lessons make them an ideal choice for modern education. As the demand for flexible and accessible learning continues to grow, video-based lessons are set to play an even bigger role in the future of education.

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Coding and robotics are essential skills in every aspect of life. They help us understand technology better and even inspire creativity. One fantastic way to learn these skills is through the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set. This set not only makes coding fun but also emphasizes the importance of making prototypes and testing them. Let’s explore why these steps are crucial in the learning process.

What are Prototypes?

A prototype is a basic product that is made to test concepts. Consider it an initial draft. Prototypes in engineering and coding allow us to understand how our ideas function in the real world, much like in writing where you may go through multiple versions before settling on the final version. You may swiftly construct a model, be it a vehicle, robot, or other device, using LEGO® SPIKETM Prime.

Why Make Prototypes?

• Visualization of Ideas: Building a prototype allows you to visualize your concept. Instead of just thinking about it, you can see how it looks and works. This is especially important in coding, where abstract concepts can be hard to grasp. Seeing your idea in action helps solidify your understanding.
• Problem Solving: Prototyping encourages problem-solving. When you create a model, you might encounter challenges. Perhaps a robot doesn’t move as you expected, or it doesn’t follow a path correctly. These problems provide valuable learning opportunities. You learn to troubleshoot and find solutions, which is an essential skill in coding and robotics.
• Iterative Learning: Prototyping promotes an iterative learning process. After testing your prototype, you can refine it based on what you’ve learned. To boost performance, you may modify the design or your code. This cycle of making, testing, and refining is at the heart of both engineering and coding. It teaches you to embrace mistakes as part of the learning journey.

The Role of Testing

Once you have your prototype ready, the next sequential step is testing it. Testing allows you to see whether your design performs as anticipated. Here’s why testing is so important:

• Validating Ideas: Testing allows you to validate your concepts. Did the robot perform the task as expected? Did the code execute without errors? This feedback helps you determine if you’re on the right track or if changes are needed.
• Identifying Weaknesses: During testing, you might find weaknesses in your prototype. Maybe the robot struggles to navigate certain obstacles, or a piece doesn’t fit well. Identifying these weaknesses early on can save time and resources in the long run. It’s better to catch problems now than to discover them later in a more advanced project.
• Encouraging Creativity: Testing can spark new ideas. As you observe how your prototype performs, you may think of innovative ways to enhance it. Perhaps you could add new features or change the design entirely. This process encourages creative thinking, which is essential in both coding and robotics.
• Building Confidence: Successfully testing your prototype builds confidence. Each small victory, like getting a robot to complete a task or a program to run smoothly, reinforces your skills. This confidence encourages you to take on more demanding projects in the future.

Learning Through Failure

Learning from failure is one of the most crucial lessons in testing and prototyping. It’s acceptable that not every prototype will function flawlessly the first time! Actually, mistakes can teach us some of the most valuable lessons. Every obstacle you face helps you become a better coder and designer by teaching you something new.

To sum up, learning coding and robotics requires building and testing prototypes, especially with interactive resources like the LEGO® Education SPIKETM Prime Set. Iterative learning, problem-solving, and concept visualization are all aided by prototyping. Testing enables you to find flaws in your ideas, get them validated, and stimulate your creativity. When combined, these procedures promote an inquisitive and resilient mindset. Remember that every prototype you create is a step toward developing new abilities and realizing your objectives. Most schools in Dubai and other Middle East regions opt for the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set. So, get to work building, and cherish the educational experience!

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In today’s educational setting, student safety and sensitive data protection are more important than ever. Online enrolment systems are an excellent solution to support these safety criteria. Schools can considerably improve their security measures by implementing a paperless method. We’ve answered some common queries regarding how online enrolment can benefit institutions.

Q: Can online student enrollment help securely collect medical records?

A: When student enrollment happens online, their medical information can be securely transferred to the school’s system. Unlike paper forms, which can be lost or misused, digital records are kept in a secure environment with restricted access. This implies that only authorized people, such as school nurses and administrators, can access sensitive health information.

Q: How does online enrollment ensure proper contact information is collected?

A: Accurate contact information is essential for effective communication between schools and families, particularly during an emergency. Online enrolment systems frequently require parents to verify their contact information, minimizing the likelihood of errors. Furthermore, these systems support real-time updates, so if a parent changes their phone number or address, they can update the information quickly. This guarantees that schools get the most recent data. 

Q: Is it possible to strengthen student data security through online enrollment?

A: Online enrolment improves data security in multiple ways. First, it reduces the physical handling of important papers, lowering the danger of loss or theft. Also, credible online enrolment platforms like ‘Schoology’ have cybersecurity features like encryption and two-factor authentication to protect data during transmission and storage. This means that even if someone tries to access the system, they will fail at doing so.

Q: Can schools eliminate administrative errors?

A:  The answer is yes! Online enrolment systems reduce errors by utilizing standardized fields and dropdown menus that direct parents to enter accurate information. Furthermore, many online systems automatically evaluate the data submitted (for example, ensuring that a phone number has the correct amount of digits), lowering the possibility of administrative errors. This means that when school workers access the data, they may be confident that it is accurate and full. 

Q: How can online enrolment increase communication with parents?

A: Online enrolment services, such as Schoology, enable automated email confirmations and reminders to keep parents informed about their enrolment status and any extra requirements. Furthermore, having all data in a single digital system helps school staff to easily retrieve and reference information, improving communication efficiency. For example, if parents need to be reached about an incident that happened to their child, staff can immediately reach out to them. 

Q: Why Choose Schoology for Online Enrollment?

A: Schools are rapidly recognising the benefits of online enrolment, making tools like Schoology important. Schoology provides a comprehensive learning management system that smoothly interacts with enrolment processes, making it easy to manage student data securely. Schools in Dubai can use Schoology to link enrolment information to students’ learning profiles, providing educators with the data they need from the start.

Online enrolment streamlines administration, increases safety and improves communication. Schools may safely collect medical records, ensure accurate contact information, improve data security, and minimize errors, resulting in a safer and more efficient environment for everyone.

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Ever wondered how to create awesome presentations like those you see in offices? Well, Google Slides is the perfect tool to start your journey! It’s a popular choice among students who need to complete school projects and impress their teachers. But if you’re just getting started, we are here to guide you. Read the Blog to understand some quick tips and tricks to help you make the most out of Google Slides, imbibing presentation skills for students.

Q1: What is Google Slides, and why should I use it?

A1: Just like a PowerPoint presentation helps you design amazing pitches, present research information, and share thought-provoking ideas, Google Slides does the same, and it’s free! This is essentially a cloud-based platform that allows for edits & collaboration, to anyone who has an internet connection.

• Multiple contributors can work on the same presentation at the same time.
• No need to worry about losing your edits, as everything gets auto saved.
• All your files are neatly stored and easily shared on Google Drive.
• Make presentations from any device – laptop, phone, iPad, etc.

Q2: How do I create a new presentation in Google Slides?

A2: Making a new presentation in Google Slides is simple.

1. Go to Google Slides.
2. Choose the “Blank” option from the menu or opt for a template.
3. A new presentation will open, and you can start adding content to your slides right away.

Pro tip: Presentation skills for students can be refined by choosing Google’s pre-made templates, which include pre-set layouts and designs, to get a head start.

Q3: How can I customize the design of my slides?

A3: Google Slides gives you a lot of flexibility to personalize your slides:

• Themes: Google Slides offers a variety of themes that change the font, and color scheme of your entire presentation.
• Backgrounds: You can add colors or even upload images as your slide background by selecting the relevant function.
• Layouts: Don’t feel like starting from scratch? Use Google Slides’ pre-built layouts to quickly organize your text, images, and charts.
• Whether you prefer a clean, professional style or a bright, creative vibe, you can change these aspects to make your presentation stand out.

Q4: How do I add text, images, and videos to my slides?

A4: Adding content is straightforward:

• Text: Make things easy by clicking on the ‘text box’ icon in the toolbar, or choose a layout with a text box already included.
• Images: Go to the Insert option and Click → “Image.” You can customize your slides by uploading images from your repository, or the ones that are saved on Google Drive.
• Videos: The steps include clicking on “Insert” → “Video,” and then you can add YouTube videos or upload your own.

Each element can be resized, moved around, and formatted to fit your presentation’s style.

Q5: What’s the best way to collaborate with classmates using Google Slides?

A5: As the saying goes, alone we can do little, together we can do so much. Similarly, collaboration on project work results in a win-win situation. Here’s how you can work with your classmates and develop efficient presentation skills for students.

• Click the “Share” button at the top-right corner of your presentation.
• Enter your classmates’ email addresses.
• Choose their permission level: “View,” “Comment,” or “Edit.”
• Everyone invited can access the same document simultaneously.

You can all view each other’s modifications in real-time, which is quite cool. By tagging someone in a comment, you may also assign jobs and leave comments (simply type @ followed by their name or email).

Q6: How do I present my Google Slides to the class?

A6: Presenting is easy if your slides are prepared. Simply select “Present” from the menu in the upper-right corner.

• Q&A: Google Slides offers a really useful Q&A section. You can initiate an online Q&A session where members of your audience can submit questions when you select “Presenter View.”
• Presenter View: With this setting, your audience will only view the current slide while you can see your speaker notes and future slides.

Q7: Can I use Google Slides when offline?

A7: Certainly! Google Slides is an online application, but you can make it work offline too.

• Use Chrome to open Google Slides.
• On the upper left, click the three-line menu.
• From the “Settings” sub-tab you can click on “Offline” mode.

You can now work on your presentation offline without using the internet. As soon as you decide to go online, all the prior changes and current changes will automatically sync.

Q8: How do I export or share my finished presentation?

A8: After you’ve finished your masterpiece, there are various methods you can download or share it:

• By selecting “Share,” you will receive an open-access URL. Permissions for viewing, commenting, and editing can be specified.
• Download: Select your presentation as a PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF, or even a picture by going to “File” → “Download.”
• If you have a dedicated school blog or school website, you can embed your presentation directly by selecting “File” → “Publish to the web.”

Empowering Students with TechnoEarth and Google Slides

TechnoEarth teaches students how to use Google Slides to make powerful presentations, which helps kids become environmental stewards. By using rotating slide decks and interactive infographics, students may effectively communicate important environmental issues. By integrating vital digital tools like Docs, Sheets, and My Maps, the initiative makes it possible for students to present their research at gatherings like Earth Keeper’s Conferences.

Presentation skills for students is an invaluable skill. Google Slides is indeed a fantastic tool for making visually stunning presentations, but it also fosters creativity and teamwork. You can easily build, modify, and present your Google Slides projects with confidence if you follow these recommendations!

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