Blair Hammer Award Makerspace Project

A recent maker space project made use of Blair's laser engraver to customize the handle of a hammer.  The Blair Hammer Award is a recognition for student athletes who have demonstrated one, some, or all the following characteristics, which are engraved on the hammer:

• Grit
• Strength
• Teamwork
• Character
• Effort

More information on the award, and information about its recipient, can be seen at this link:  https://www.blair.edu/athletics/blair-hammer-award

Chiang Center for Innovation and Collaboration Technology Summary

  

The Chiang Center for Innovation and Collaboration's 28,704 square feet house the most technology in one building on Blair's campus.  Here is a list of some of the technology available to our faculty and students:

• Maker space machines for digital fabrication including
• 3D printers
• Wide format color laser printer for posters
• T-shirt printer & thermal press
• Laser cutter
• Vinyl cutter
• Six flat screen TVs in conference rooms and meeting spaces
• Two 133" large-projection screens in the forum, with HD projectors
• Classroom AV systems for wireless projection and streaming video
• Bluetooth sound systems in the art studio, maker space, and ceramics classroom
• Media computer labs for digital sound, photo and video editing
• Electronic keyboard systems
• Recording studio for both video and audio recordings
• Studio lighting board, sound board, web cam system and video recording system
• Robotics lab

Maintaining an Emergency Notification System

In order to help create a safer environment for our students, faculty, and staff, the technology office maintains a software system that is capable of quickly sending out an emergency message.  Setting up the system entails uploading email addresses, and cell phone numbers of all campus community members and parents of students.  Maintaining the system includes removing stale numbers, and adding in new community members when they arrive on campus.  When an emergency message needs to be sent out, a message can be created and sent via text and email in a matter of minutes.  These messages will notify people of a situation on campus and offer directions on how to proceed.  A follow up message alerts people that the situation has ended and that they can return to normal activities.

Troubleshooting Computers after Windows Update

A recent windows update caused a number of all-in-one computers to fail to wake up from sleep mode.   The technology office received tickets from users in the Business Office, Library, and other office groups.  After some research and several attempts at a resolution, our user support specialist, Blake Wolos, was able to get the computers working again. Only one specific model of computer experienced the issue, and the solution was to re-install a graphics card driver from a manufacturer's website.  

Blair Robotics Team Wins

Blair Robotics Team attended the Cliffside Cliffhanger, a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics competition, hosted by Cliffside Park High School, Cliffside Park, NJ, with 16 teams in attendance. Since the “Cliffhanger” was an official New Jersey FTC Meet, it meant that all of points earned are carried into the League Tournament at season’s end. The Blair Robotics Team was part of the Winning Alliance, the Highest Scoring Alliance, and independently had the Audacious Autonomous mode. Unlike most teams, the Blair team started their season by constructing a robot from scratch. In addition to perfecting their design based on participation in early practice meets, they worked especially hard to create an autonomous robot mode that was unmatched by any other team. This relied on extensive programming that the team was actively tweaking throughout the competition, a risky approach. The team embodied gracious professionalism in all their actions, even when challenging some questionable judging. Overall. they were well-regarded representatives of Blair Academy. Well Done!

Faculty Technology Workshops

On a regular basis during the school year, faculty can attend technology workshops designed to encourage and increase the use of technology on campus.  Some recent workshops include how to project onto the 133" screens in the Chiang Center for Innovation and Collaboration, creating a choose-your-own adventure activity for classes, and how to effectively use Google Classroom.  The workshops are typically offered during all class blocks on one or two days of the week in order to give faculty plenty of flexibility to fit these into their packed schedules.

Maker Space for Peddie Day

Recently Blair's freshman students used our new maker space to create Peddie Day banners that were not only inspiring, but also clean and professional looking.  Above, one of Blair's freshman students completes her project.  She used design software and Blair's new vinyl cutter during the class.  Mr. Garrant remarked that she "was super excited about her maker space creation".