Author: Mr Sully

Mr Sully is an educator in Canberra Australia. He teaches Industrial Technology, Design, Computing, Graphics and Construction. He’s trying to use this blog and Twitter to promote Design and Technology education and all the good things we do. Feel free to make comments on stories or just make contact to talk shop.
Posted in Design and Technology, Game, Graphics, ICT

Using video game design in the classroom

Posted on by Mr Sully

At my school, like many others we have a unit of work in Year 7 Technology Mandatory on Game Design. We’ve dabbled with Microsofts free Kodu (maybe Project Spark in the future) but mostly we have been using an older version of YoYo Games Gamemaker, you can grab a legacy version for free from this site.

The kids really engage with Video Game Design as it’s such a strong influence on their generation. One of the areas that create some disengagement for some students can be with the creative side, making good looking assets (graphics). Well a company called Tiny Speck has just released the assets from their now defunct game called Glitch into the public domain, meaning anyone can play around with their professionally crafted designs. For me it means that I can grab the spritesheets and let kids loose, seeing what they can come up with.

Posted in Design, Design and Technology, Video

8 Design Projects done in less than a minute each

Posted on by Mr Sully

I posted this video a few weeks ago using Twitter (@MrSully_) and it’s started to get quite a few retweets. So I thought, just for those people who aren’t using Twitter, why not? I should repost it here.

Posted in Design, Toy

The original Lego patent

Posted on by Mr Sully

Lego we all love those little bricks and yellow figs. It’s a rare ‘toy’ that allows for so much creativity and fun for all ages. For the first time, this year Lego has become the worlds second largest toy manufacturer and as it looks to new emerging markets such as China perhaps it is fast approaching the number one spot. I spoke to my class today about patents and just happened upon this image on Twitter and thought I’d share. The original Lego patent.
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Posted in Books, Video, Woodwork, Workshop

First post in two months!

Posted on by Mr Sully

Writing examinations, marking, reporting completing my own training, workshops, and federal elections, whew! when does it get quiet. Well now, a little. So I’ll ease myself into the whole blogasphere again with this great video for what looks like a wonderful new book ‘The Unplugged Workshop – Hand Crafted Projects for the Home‘. After having my own workshop as a cabinet maker many moons ago, with all the machinery and overheads that go with that. I now start to feel like this is where I’d love to end up. Enjoy the video, I might go order the book.

Posted in Craftsmanship, Design, Video

HollenWolff Mechanical Cufflinks

Posted on by Mr Sully

Great video promoting the quality of craftsmanship that this American company instills.

 

 

Hollenwolff buy some cufflinks…

 

Posted in Design and Technology, Engineering, Video

The Design Process and Craftsmanship

Posted on by Mr Sully

Some videos I’ve just discovered that nicely convey the beauty of design and craft.

The HTC One

The Ricky Bag Collection

 

 

Posted in Documentary, Video

Made by Hand

Posted on by Mr Sully

Another beautiful short film found on Vimeo. It documents a bike maker named Ezra Caldwell, a man suffering from the effects of cancer. It documents his craft and his ongoing journey and is very inspiring.

Check out the Those Who Make website for other videos.

Posted in Documentary, Teacher resource, Video

Shaped On All Six Sides

Posted on by Mr Sully

I love finding inspirational work like this. This is a short doco about the craft and philosophy of wooden boat carpentry.

 

Enjoy

Posted in Documentary, Video, Woodturning

Turning Pro

Posted on by Mr Sully

This short doco about Ben Kandel and his woodturning business is another wonderful mix of video, audio and handskills. It makes me want to do some more turning and more filming.

Posted in Google, ICT

Google Apps – Admin Training Day

Posted on by Mr Sully

Well back to Term 2 and it’s all go! I’m still gradually restoring my desk to its former glory as it was involved in a quite a monumental collapse during the last week of Term 1.

During the past holidays I did get the opportunity to head to Sydney for a Google Apps for Administrators training event. A very inspiring collection of educators and presenters. Dorothy Burt and her husband from New Zealand were so dedicated to their students and the results they can demonstrate are truly exciting.

At the moment everything is looking good for the roll out of Google Apps in the NSW Public Education system, although I am a little concerned we may have some limitations that hinder us at the grass roots level. Watching some of the presentations from the Non-Government schools makes me envious of their autonomy and ability to make decisions and follow through.

The video above is of the Hapara interface that schools can purchase and it was a brilliant. Hapara is a commercial package that integrates into Google Apps for Education (which is free!) taking many of the processes that currently in most schools are a series of hacks and mashed together software packages, and turns your browser into a true school working environment.

Keep an eye on the #GAFECOMMUNITY hashtag  on Twitter to hear more.