Something fishy
NZBC recently sent junior reporter Joe Bowman to attend a three-day “High Level Thinking” course run by Bubble Dome at Point Chevalier Primary School, where he had a chance to try out its 3D programming, water science and creative thinking classes. Here is Joe’s report.
JOE BOWMAN — profile
Age: 10
Favourite subject at school: Writing
Hobbies: Computer, drawing, reading
Favourite song and artist: Incense and Peppermints, Strawberry Alarm Clock; Can’t Explain, The Who.
Favourite TV show: Futurama, The Simpsons, The Kumars at No. 42, Rove, The Young Ones
Favourite film: School of Rock
Wants to be: News Reporter in the Field
Favourite saying: “Heavy, man.”
Joe’s Report
**½
The website said we would learn about how special effects are made in movies, and how to animate 3D objects on the computer. I also liked the sound of modelling creatures in their own environments. This made up only about a third of the course, and we didn’t actually cover animation, special effects and creatures in their own environments. They also said they would be doing debating, but we only did a little bit right at the end of the course.
In 3D programming we made 3D houses and landscapes. This was the best thing about the course. In Water Science we made up a story about some people that lived underwater, learnt how things float, and experimented to make something that would stay buoyant in water. Creative Thinking was mainly about these things called Map Worms — an imaginary creature that helps you find your way. We had to think of ways we could use a Map Worm in everyday life. We had to imagine we were “Zinger Pingers” (a highly evolved species of bird-like dinosaur) living in the fictional setting “Zingulu Island”. This was quite interesting but got quite repetitive, as we did this every day.
There were good facilities, a cool playground and a nice-smelling library. However, the toilet wasn’t very easy to find.
The advertising was good but set my expectations too high. Also the hall smelt like fish. “3D animation”, as it was advertised, was not animated. But I learned how to use a 3D programme called Bruce, and a lot about water science.
I liked the playground and the creative thinking but I didn’t like the teachers because they showed rife favouritism to the turbo-nerds.
I give it a 2½ out of 5 and probably wouldn’t recommend it as the best thing to do if you could find something else.
JOE BOWMAN — profile
Age: 10
Favourite subject at school: Writing
Hobbies: Computer, drawing, reading
Favourite song and artist: Incense and Peppermints, Strawberry Alarm Clock; Can’t Explain, The Who.
Favourite TV show: Futurama, The Simpsons, The Kumars at No. 42, Rove, The Young Ones
Favourite film: School of Rock
Wants to be: News Reporter in the Field
Favourite saying: “Heavy, man.”
Joe’s Report
**½
The website said we would learn about how special effects are made in movies, and how to animate 3D objects on the computer. I also liked the sound of modelling creatures in their own environments. This made up only about a third of the course, and we didn’t actually cover animation, special effects and creatures in their own environments. They also said they would be doing debating, but we only did a little bit right at the end of the course.
In 3D programming we made 3D houses and landscapes. This was the best thing about the course. In Water Science we made up a story about some people that lived underwater, learnt how things float, and experimented to make something that would stay buoyant in water. Creative Thinking was mainly about these things called Map Worms — an imaginary creature that helps you find your way. We had to think of ways we could use a Map Worm in everyday life. We had to imagine we were “Zinger Pingers” (a highly evolved species of bird-like dinosaur) living in the fictional setting “Zingulu Island”. This was quite interesting but got quite repetitive, as we did this every day.
There were good facilities, a cool playground and a nice-smelling library. However, the toilet wasn’t very easy to find.
The advertising was good but set my expectations too high. Also the hall smelt like fish. “3D animation”, as it was advertised, was not animated. But I learned how to use a 3D programme called Bruce, and a lot about water science.
I liked the playground and the creative thinking but I didn’t like the teachers because they showed rife favouritism to the turbo-nerds.
I give it a 2½ out of 5 and probably wouldn’t recommend it as the best thing to do if you could find something else.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home