enoch pratt library presentation (january 2016)
TRANSCRIPT
Digital Harbor Foundation
• Youth
• Families
• Community
Peek into a Makerspace
Collaboration
Creativity
Engaged youth
Open-Ended
Reflection
Youth driven, Teacher supported
Curiosity & Interest
Productivity CreativityMaking
What is a Makerspace?• Not about the the technology or equipment
• Enables people to:
• Feel free to experiment
• Feel free to fail
• Have the opportunity to progress/iterate
Start Small• Start where you are &
Use what you have
• Cardboard Challenge
• LED Name Tags
• Art Bots
• Paper Flashlights
• Straw Rockets
Starting OutMakerspace in a Box
What to include?• Playdoh • Cardboard & Paper • Tape, Rubber bands, Clips • LEDs, Copper Tape, Batteries • Motors and Gears • Toys that move • Pool Noodles
Getting Started• Start Small:
• LED Name Tags
• Art Bots
• diy.org
• cardboardchallenge.com
• Increment:
• MaKey MaKey (makeymakey.com)
• Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
Project: LED Name Tag
• Design a name tag with an LED that represents something about yourself.
• Use the following supplies: LED, Coin Cell Battery, Colored Foam, Adhesive Foam, Markers, Scissors, Tape
• Constraints:
• Must use 1 LED
• Time: 10 minutes
Project Prompts
• Open ended, include constraints
• Integrate Design Process: Plan, Make, Share (receive feedback and iterate throughout)
• Move away from step-by-step directions
• Allow for scaffolding: Options for scaling up
Example Prompt: Art Bots
• Using your supplies, create a robot that draws
• Constraints:
• Must use 1 electric toothbrush
Scaffolding• Start with the prompt
• Give time for brain storming and prototyping
• Provide a sample or prototype to be reverse engineered
• Finally, provide step-by-step directions
Leveling Up…
• Makey Makey ($50) • Raspberry Pi (Raspberry STEM $145) • Paper/Vinyl Cutter ($250)
Advanced
• Arduino and Internet of Things ($100) • Printrbot Simple 3D Printer ($600)
What We’ve Learned
Creativity + Productivity• Creativity
• individuality and personalization
• increases ownership
• Productivity
• Solves a problem
• Addresses a need
Art Bots v1
Art Bots v2
Project Ideas
Wind Tube
$40 in materials + craft suppliesExplore aerodynamics
Scratch Art
• Painted CD
• Wooden Skewer
Art Bots
< $2 each - Simple art robotsPool Noodles, Electric Toothbrush, Battery, Markers
Rubber Bands
CD Rom Hovercraft
Straw Rockets
Paper Rockets
Paper Circuits
MaKey MaKey
$45 - Turns anything conductive into a keyboard- Playdoh Game Controller - Veggie Piano -
Balancing Real World Tech With Real World Access
#3DforED
Real AccessReal Tech
Real Tech
• Applicable
• Used by professionals in the field
• Jobs available or in demand
Real Access• Widely Available
• Supports multiple platforms
• Windows and Mac at a minimum
• Inexpensive or Free
• Web based for the win!!
Applicable Accessible
Graphic Design: Photoshop
PhotoshopAccessible Applicable
3 8
Costly Lots of real world applications
Does work on a variety of platforms Real world jobs available
Gimp
Gimp
Accessible Applicable
9 4
Free The tool itself does not have many jobs
Supports a variety of platforms The skills you learn with the tool can be very in demand
http://www.gimp.org/
Programming: Scratch
Scratch
Accessible Applicable
10 1
Free The tool itself does not have many jobs
Web based The fundamentals can help you learn more applicable languages
scratch.mit.edu
JavaScript
JavaScriptAccessible Applicable
8 6
Free Lots of real world jobs
Web based
Access > Applicability
• Teach core concepts
• Move to more applicable as fast as possible
• Have a road map to applicable
Applicable > Access
• Share alternative tools that are more accessible
• Start with accessible and move to applicable quickly
Outcomes
• Teach how to learn, not a specific product.
• Favor accessible but have a plan to get to applicable
Resources• Book: Invent to Learn by Gary Stager & Sylvia
Martinez
• Book: Howtoons: Tools of Mass Construction by Dr. Griffith Saul, and others
• Book: Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making by Curt Gabrielson
Resources
• Book: How to Build a Hovercraft: Air Cannons, Magnetic Motors, and 25 Other Amazing DIY Science Projects by Stephen Voltz & Fritz Grobe
• Make: Magazine & Website
• www.familymakenight.org
Q&A
Contact
• Jonathan Prozzi
• @jonathanprozzi
• www.digitalharbor.org
• @DHFBaltimore