Books you “do,” not just read…

Last week, we attended the National Technology Leadership Summit in Washington, DC and spent two days designing a STEM project that will be published as an interactive book that makes use of 3D fabricators, and a host of other cool tools.  Our topic was Space Weather, and the target audience was 6th grade students.  (Although I’ve found that great activities work across a wide range of ages.)

We were able to see a prototype publication created by the fab@school project (http://www.fabathome.org)

Prototype book

This project is avidly supported by Glen Bull from the University of Virginia who, along with his colleagues at Cornell and elsewhere are carrying the message that atoms are the new bits.

Projects like this can have a great impact on education as long as teachers are willing to step away from the lockstep curriculum of the past.

3D fabrication for kids

It’s only a prototype at this point, but these folks are on to something huge. (http://www.origo3dprinting.com/). While inexpensive 3D printers are not particularly new, the Origo designers have gone after the end-user – in their minds, ten-year-old children who may want to design and build their own toys. Assuming they get funding, this product is a real game changer!

Origo prototype

Hope Santa leaves one of these under my tree!