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12 Battling balloonbots! I was recovering from a cold at the time so the work was slow and arduous, but in the end this workshop was definitely the most exciting of the series. In the future I'd definitely like to create a design that can be lasercut/3d printed, to make the bot more kit-able.
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My Drawdios at a Big Draw LA event. I'm glad they look like fun!
Look at these critters! Some great designs here from my first bristlebots workshop. There were certainly some bumps in the presentation and design, namely kids losing interest in the explanation and mounting tape not working very well, but overall it seems to have left a positive impression. I've got some great notes to make the next workshop, beetlebots, even better!
Some pictures of the LA Makerspace booth at STEAM Nation! I think we were all a bit worried about the logistics, but once our group got into rhythm we had a blast helping kids make paper airplanes and paper sail cars. Looking forward to DIY Days this weekend!
Yikes! The new LAM sign for STEAM Nation started off ridiculously scary looking. As I peeled mask away and tried to add eyes it just got worse and worse! I was doubled over laughing at how I had managed to make this perfectly innocuous mascot look like a demon. Luckily it ended up looking alright once the rest of the sign was done to give it some context along with better eyes. I especially like how the words turned out. The font in the logo is made to look like tape, so using actual tape for the letters is just perfect.
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The LA Makerspace officially closed its doors last weekend. Here's to finding a new space ASAP! In the meantime LAM will continue to make its presence felt through pop-up events at Los Angeles public libraries (which I will hopefully be hosting quite often).
The most important part of designing a small silly robot intended for children is making sure that it appeals to and can survive children. The bristlebot design I settled on is simple, clear in its mechanics, and best of all: cheap. None of that means a thing if a kid doesn't want to play with it. So at the penultimate LA Makerspace meeting I brought a bristlebot along to see if it would get any attention.
A couple of kids grabbed it immediately and it was about 5 minutes before the motor popped right off the brush. The vibration and stress from being knocked over undid the hot glue pretty quickly; redesigns will probably use mounting tape instead. What happened afterwards was very encouraging. The kids brought the poor bot to the operating table and began rebuilding as best they could. Where should the wires go? How should the motor be taped back on? With trial and error and minimal guidance (I had to step in once or twice to explain what a "short circuit" is and why they shouldn't do it) the kids were able to figure out how to get the robot running again, albeit a little worse for the wear.
All in all it was some great data collection. I've got notes for redesigns and I know that the bristlebot is both fun and engaging, at least for the younger kids. Hopefully I'll be able to host a workshop with these bots soon.
LA Makerspace is doing some incredible work - for kids, for STEAM, and for the community. I'm excited to be getting involved with them and the programs they are putting together. Please vote for their initiative on this link!
What is this all about?:
The ultimate goal for LA Makerspace is to connect students to the larger world of research, design, and development. In the process providing the academic and professional support needed for a meaningful connection between students and research partners. To this end LA Makerspace seeks to accomplish three goals: LA Makerspace seeks to improve students’ abilities in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields as measured by traditional metrics such as an increase in the participating schools’ average California Standards Test scores in math and science, as well as a corresponding increase in math and science scores for Advanced Placement exams. We seek to increase student interest in STEAM fields, particularly from traditionally underrepresented populations, as evidenced by an increase in the percentage of students from participating schools choosing to major in such fields after graduation from high school. LA Makerspace seeks to strengthen the academic and professional skills needed to succeed in college, particularly within a STEAM major, as evidenced by an increase in the percentage of students from participating schools who graduate from college with a STEAM major.
