Howdy RMAE Community,
Mr. Dunbar here. If we have not yet met, I am the Technology Teacher here at RMAE. As a teacher, I strive to provide every student with a genuine opportunity to explore, create, work together and learn from their mistakes. I am one of two teachers who sees every student in the school. While this might be a bit much for some, I love that I have this amazing opportunity to not only teach but get to know every student on campus.
Despite the fact that I am the Tech Teacher at RMAE, most of my time away from school can be found outside and as far away from a computer as possible. My wife and I chose to live in Evergreen because of how quickly we could be hiking, riding single track, or most likely, wading knee deep in cold running water casting dry flies to trout. If I am not hiking, biking or fishing, I can be found in the dusty confines of my woodshop where I build furniture.
Technology Class at RMAE
My students are astronauts, Martians, builders, designers, engineers, makers, explorers, tinkers, artists, teammates, programmers, innovators, scientists and builders. They land on Mars and program a Mars rover. They collaborate to make a gigantic 3D printed maze. They race mousetrap cars that they built with a teammate. They challenge ideas, and design vehicles powered with balloons. They explore our galaxy and our solar system, and design spacesuits to travel to distant planets. They problem solve and learn to build things with their hands.
Tech Class at RMAE is far more than screen time. It’s a chance to build something. To learn from mistakes. To make a previous design better. To work with a partner, and learn how to listen to their opinions and ideas. To challenge the status quo. It's an opportunity to not just use technology for passive consumption but to actively learn and build something.
Fine Woodworking at RMAE
In addition to Tech Class at RMAE, I also teach four different fine woodworking elective classes to Middle School students. My goal as a woodworking teacher is to have students learn the safe and confident use of woodworking tools, processes, best practices, and techniques to make beautiful, functional, handmade projects out of wood.
Below is a link to the K-8 Curriculum Map for my classroom. Please feel to reach out if you have any questions!
RMAE K-8 Curriculum Map