Autism Sees Launches! Engineering Assistive Technology

This year I have taken technology to a new level at the Boston Medical Center in the Autism Resource Program. Learning about assistive technology, iOS and software development for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have designed my own app, which my business partner Isabella Slaby and I are coding ourselves. iContact is our new product launching before the start of next school year if all goes well. Make sure to check out our company: www.autismsees.com later this week~ the company's website is officially being launched tonight, along with a KickStarter profile to raise money for the Text to Speech technology Isabella and I want to incorporate in the app. Best everyone and keep engineering, designing, and moving.

Snow Snow Snow---Spring Break Spring Break

Hey Guys! Second semester has been great. I'm still at Argenziano, but with a new teacher named Ms. Murphy. I'm teaching fifth grade with my partner Joe Singh, a Comp Science and IR double major. I took the driving test so now I drive the two of us with the STOMP car to Ms. Murphy's class. Next Friday we are FINALLY starting environmental engineering, where the students will build water filters. This lesson has been delayed a little while due to the TONS of snow we have been getting, winter breaks and field trip-reschedulings. Can't wait to post some pictures of my new class! Also check out www.codeacademy.com. I've been doing 10 minutes everyday to learn computer programming. There is a curriculum for kids online that Joe and I might turn into our final project with Ms. Murphy's class.

Best, Danielle

STOMP at Tufts

Hey Everyone! It's been awhile since I have written. I got involved with Engineering Education here at Tufts University. I am in the Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP) at Tufts--where my journey began! Right now I teach a fifth grade class every Friday in Medford, MA. We are using LEGO NXT bricks to build houses. The students are learning Properties and Materials. This Friday we will test temperature, reflectivity, and waterproofing materials to determine the best ones for our model houses. The classroom is 20 students, all are enthusiastic about our lessons. I have uploaded a photo of students who were inspired to go home and build their own model house on their own. Hope you enjoy! Keep engineering.

Success

This year has been such a success for me, Ashley Hall, and Ann Sheridan, Meaghan Bonds, Jessica Fisher, and Carly Hill! I nominated Ann Sheridan, rising 7th grader, to be on the Engineering Girls Website student panel! She WON! This happened a few months back, but I wanted to blog about it and connect you to her PQV article: Also, The Sheridan Corporation donated #3,000.00 to continue my Lego Robotics Class and the FIRST Lego League Team next year at Ashley Hall. The money is being split between funds for entering an Ashley Hall team in the FIRST Lego League and buying new Lego Mindstorm NXT kits for Ashley Hall Robotics classes! Thanks so much to all who have supported me and who came to my final presentation! Thats all for now--I am attending Tufts University in the fall of 2012. I would love to get back with the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach to participate in the STOMP (Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program). Danielle

April 6th - MUSC Field Trip

Hi all: meet at Ashley Hall on Smith St. at 2:45 on Good Friday. We will walk to MUSC Health and Science Center to tour the robotics labs!! Pick up will again be on Smith Street at 4:45 (ish) depending on how long it takes to walk back..roughly 5-10 mins.

Great job programming the navigation obstacle course on Friday! Here is the picutre of your program--sound files must be converted to a different format (*.rso) so we will not be importing our own music. But, it's there and you all know how to use the program now! Yay!

See you next Friday!! Please call me if you are running late or can't make the trip for some reason. Cell # 843-437-6910

Class Tomorrow (Friday March 29th)

Hi all,

Tomorrow we will navigate a simple obstacle course...the hard part is the programming, but I think you all will be able to figure it out with a little guidance.

Also wanted to let you guys know that I judged the FIRST Lego League "Snack Attack" for elementary school kids at Porter Gaud the other week! It was fun and I enjoyed seeing all the snack/food assembly lines and factories the kids came up with. I was also proud to see we had our very own lower school Ashley Hall girls participating. No big deal, everyone got a prize. But, I wanted my robotics girls to be aware that there are volunteer opportunities in the lower school for you experienced girls!! I'm sure Ms. McCarty would love a few older middle school engineers in the classroom helping out :)

Next Class-Week we get back from Spring Break (March 23rd) Friday

Congratulations to our Lego class...we finally figured out case structures and while loops. These programs will definitely be presented on April 30th during my final presentation. All parents, teachers, and students are welcome to come.

I will pull Ann, Meaghan, Carly, and Jessica from class that day to come speak at the end of my presentation and show their amazing work! Great job. I am so happy we have some impressive programs to show to our audience.

April 6th is our day to tour MUSC Heath Center, Robotics in occupational therapy! Next class after break, we will work on an obstacle course and some math concepts. Then we will head to MUSC on April 6th. Following that I will continue classes up until my presentation.

Happy Spring Break!!