Marble Run

Technology is often associated with solely electronic devices and new technology. However, it is not true; technology is any man-made object has been created for an assigned purpose. Technology can range from a spaceship to a bendy-straw. Technological education holds limitless opportunities for children to enhance their problem-solving skills and creative thinking. As a part of the Gadget Gurus group, we embarked on creating a marble run using simple objects such as half pipes, wooden blocks and tubes. All of which is technology, yet nothing was digital!

Learning through technology is an excellent way to combine various learning strands such as science, art, and literacy. During our experiment, we were able to conduct hypotheses, predictions, trial and errors, and collect data. Despite of this, it is important that educators use technology as a tool rather than the teacher. This means that technology should not be the focus of the lesson, rather it should be the process of what is being taught. Thus, in our experiment, we used the materials to invent a way for a marble to travel without taking the focus away from our creative thinking. I personally enjoy using more tactical technological learning because of how conscious I am with excessive screen-time and new technology, especially with young children.

Please enjoy our hilarious video documentation of the Gadget Guru's Marble Run Experiment, and share some thoughts about how technology helps learning.