Education

Intro to Making with Micro:bit

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Do you want to create amazing projects that can lead you to comprehend more about electronics, robotics, IA and coding?

Join us on this workshop to learn everything you will need to start making any project you can imagine with Micro:bit, the most popular microcontroller and education platform for students from 6 to 15 years old.

We will build some fun and exciting apps and games that run on the micro:bit exposing the students to its capabilities, built-in sensors, teaching them programming skills, and inspiring them to take coding further.

We will make four projects:
1. Wearable animated badge
2. Funny interactive game.
3. Fitness tracking step counter .
4. Water monitoring device for your plants.

Learn with our Micro:bit Champion coach designated by the Micro:bit Foundation for the 2021 program.

Kinetic Fish Sculptures

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Join puppeteer, sculptor, and storyteller Dave English for a three hour tour of his puppet studio and online education laboratory as he leads you through the steps of making your own jiggling wiggling kinetic fish sculpture. Walleye, Bass, Crappy, Mackerel, Catfish, or even Shrimp! It’s all fair game. Heck you can make a land animal if you want to live that life. It is your creation! Dave is going to show you some construction methods, tools, materials, techniques that he uses as a professional puppeteer.

Participants should have at least one person per group who is comfortable using some basic wood shop skills for the wood cutting part. This project also offers hands-on opportunities like assembly and painting for younger participants. Work alone or as a group to make a fun wooden-jointed fish sculpture that moves like a real fish that you can display on your shelf, porch, boat, windowsill, etc.

Monitoring Water with Arduino Connected Sensors

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Join Gearbox Labs in this four-week workshop on building and using Arduino-connected science sensors to monitor water.

This workshop will feature four water sensors:

  • Water Temperature Sensor
  • pH Sensor
  • Soil Moisture Sensor
  • Turbidity Sensor

The workshop is designed for educators, science students, and science enthusiasts who want to learn how to build and use Arduino-connected, water monitoring sensors to collect data. The workshop will start with digital design and prototyping and then continue to building and coding the sensor.

The workshop will also cover collecting larger scientific data sets using MS Excel and will demonstrate Internet of Things connections to sensors.

Experience with Arduino Uno is helpful and having the parts to build the projects will maximize your participation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn 2D Parametric CAD with Gram

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The Gram design language lets you make dynamic 2D designs that are easy to modify, re-mix, and share. In Gram you create objects by describing patterns. The language is designed to be accessible to anyone, even those without programming experience.

In this class you’ll have the opportunity to learn gram from the creator of the language.

You can find example gram designs here. The program runs in the browser, so no downloads are necessary.

Create your own Robotics Club with Micro:bit

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Create your own robotics club at home, school or as entrepreneurship with Micro:bit the leading microcontroller for teaching robotics and electronics for kids.

We will show what you need to start a successful  robotics club with micro:bit workshops taking advantage of all the open source resources available from software to complete ready made lessons.

Learn with our Micro:bit Champion coach designated by the Micro:bit Foundation for the 2021 program.

Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero

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A 10-class online course to learn the basics of biotechnology and genetic engineering!

This biotechnology class will help you to discover what biotechnology is, and how to use it to make new and exciting things. You’ll even try your hand at genetic engineering, no prior knowledge necessary!

Already, biotechnology affects more than a billion people every year and is a core part of our society. Yet, only a small fraction of the population understands and can use it to help solve the world’s biggest problems; from fuel to food to medicine, all the way to new sustainable, and exciting materials.

Whether you are looking to explore the potential of biotechnology as a maker, wanting to see if a career path in biotechnology is right for you, or even gain some biotechnology teaching skills yourself, this course will help you reach your goal! Each student will learn the fundamentals of biotechnology and apply them in their own hands-on experiments using the class materials. From making bio-art to engineering bacteria with the DNA from sea creatures to seeing DNA in real life, you’ll have the chance to ask your questions, problem-solve and discuss biotechnology applications, ethics and impacts. Join this class to complete your Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero learning Journey alongside your peers!

As part of this class, learners will have the chance to flex their existing making skills, from programming to crafting, by building their own incubator, improving on the designs, and exploring the world of bio-electronics and lab equipment as part of an optional personal project.

Class Overview (subject to change to include discussions, lines of questioning from participants, and project reviews.)

Class 1

What is Biotechnology?

Class 2

DNA, The Blueprint of Life!

Hands-on activity: DNA extraction Experiment

Class 3

Biosafety, Responsible Science & You!
Hands-on Activity: Biosafety & Lab Setup

Class 4

Microorganisms for Biotechnology: Part 1

Hands-on Activity: Part 1 of the Canvas Kit Experiment.

Class 5

Microorganisms For Biotechnology: Part 2

Hands-on Activity: Part 2 of the Canvas Kit Experiment.

Class 6

Genetic Engineering: Microfacturing Step 1

Hands-on Activity: Canvas Kit Results and Engineer-it Kit Experiment Part 1

Class 7

Genetic Engineering: Microfacturing Step 2

Hands-on Activity: Engineer-it Kit Experiment Part 2

Class 8

 Genetic Engineering: Microfacturing Step 3
Hands-on Activity: Engineer-it Kit Experiment Part 3

Class 9

Genetic Engineering:

Hands-on Activity: Engineer-it Kit Experiment Results and Inactivation Procedure

Class 10

Biotechnology & you – Ask a scientist

What’s next?