Homeschool STEM Program

The Program Services Coordinator for our library district asked if I would help out with a homeschool group interseted in STEM programming. I said OF COURSE!

This was their first of a monthly series. I was told to expect 10-12 kids ranging in age from 8-12 years old.  It ended up being a few extra kids! This program will alternate between La Center and Woodland, so I took some notes to help out the next librarian. :)

Program Overview:
44 kids + 12 adults and several little ones
10:10-10:25 Introduction
10:25-11:15 Circuits
11:15-11:40 Makey Makey

Notes
We started with a basic introduction. The kids didn't want to sit on the floor, so they set up and tore down all the chairs (which was awesome).
We talked about making, circuits, and how we're learning things that can be tricky, so it's okay to not get things right the first time, just keep exploring! 
I was surprised that most of the kids present didn't have very much making/tinkering experience (8-10 year olds have generally done some coding) ~15 minutes
I think this would be a good group for any and all science you can throw at them!
The room had 4 tables set up, so we broke the group out into 4 stations with an adult in charge of each station (roughly 10 kids).
It worked out at first to have adults help monitor and make sure everyone was sharing supplies, but I noticed they were more hesitant to help when we got to the part of experimenting with different conductive materials.
It might help to give a head's up on the upcoming project to the adults who will be present so they feel a little more confident to help the kids.
We did some basic circuits using 9 volt batteries with battery caps, an LED and different conductive materials (alligator clips, play dough, silverware, aluminum foil, graphite) ~45 minutes
This was fun and the kids had a great time exploring. With a little encouragement, the kids who had early success helped others who were struggling.
Our second activity was making game pads for Makey Makey (with the Chromebooks) ~45 minutes
I had a heart-stopping moment while I was there that the Chromebooks wouldn't connect to WiFi, but I only ended up having one out of six that didn't work. It worked fine when I brought it back to OC.
I've continued to have mixed success with Makey Makey and am pretty much convinced I will stop using them in large group programs.
One-on-one or in controlled, focused environments, the Makey Makey can be fun. Several parents wrote down the Makey Makey information to explore with their kid later, which I think could work well.
Some kids excel at wiring a Makey Makey up and adding components to build gamepads
...most kids quickly give up and use the keyboard, touch the Makey Makey directly, or (in the case of our Chromebooks) touch the screen to run the apps. Even after several attempts to redirect, the kids went right back to what they were doing. :(
We were all tuckered out around 11:30 am. Some couldn't take the noise of that many people in the room, some couldn't get quality time with the objects, and some just got too hot with that many people in the room
I received a lot of feedback from parents and kids that they enjoyed the program, learned something new, and were excited to try more things!

Suggestions Moving Forward   
If interest continues to be high, I’d recommend running 2 one-hour sessions of repeat content and have families sign up for one or the other and hoping for no more than 25/session
Smaller groups to provide more quality hands-on time
More supplies to go around
More comfortable in space
More attention given to each group
There were several little ones (under 6). Some of them tried the activity and did fine, but I’d planned on 8-12 year old kids. I’d think about either having a concurrent STEM story time for the younger ones or split the younger and older kids up so everyone gets a challenge
Have a resource list (like a book list) for kids to take after the program to continue exploring
Meet with the parent volunteers ahead of time, or at least send out the project details so they’re more prepared to help during the program
Stay away from anything that relies on Wifi

Program Suggestions:
Tech Take Apart
ArtBots/BrushBots
Edison Robots (Program Services)
Zoob & Strawbees (Program Services)
Penny Boats
Build tetrahedron pyramids out of newspaper
Paper Circuits
3D Design/Printing, but Design relies on Tinkercad (which is web-based == Internet needed)
Coding (web-based == Internet needed), we could try Arduino microcontrollers with Arduino and do some basic C, we could also do “unplugged” coding activities
Water Experiments and molecules
Rockets & Aerodynamics
Solar ovens and sun activities

2018 Cardboard Challenge

It's October! That means it is time for CARDBOARD CHALLENGE! If you aren't aware of cardboard challenge, take a moment to catch up!

Our Teen Librarian procured a large amount of amazing, double cell corrugated cardboard sheets from a local box manufacturing company. In terms of cardboard ratings, these sheets would be A+++. They are sturdy, large, and super fun. But they're kind of tricky for kids to cut up. So, we decided to work on larger projects with these sheets.

Over the summer, the Teen Librarian worked with our Facilities department to cut a bunch of the cardboard to create this geodesic dome. The first attempt, during summer, was to try and build it with binder clips (as we would have to break it down after the program). This proved to have quite enough tensile strength once they started pushing the dome up.

We looked into 3D printing our own plastic fasteners, but realized how many we'd have to print for it to work. My Senior Assistant, Elsbeth, came up with the great idea of using zip ties. A lot of zip ties.  Like, and insane amount of zip ties.

So, Cardboard Challenge 1: build a geodesic dome!

Elsbeth also had a bunch of uniformly sized boxes from a supply order. These boxes packed flat (genius) and were the perfect size for open building.

Cardboard Challenge 2: build with boxes!

Even with the geodesic dome cuts, we STILL had a lot of beautiful cardboard sheets left over. I recruited our summer Teen volunteer, Olivia, to sketch out bowling pin templates, based on this lasercutting schematic. We've had some interns assisting us with programs this fall, so I set them to cutting and assembling pins with the public.

Cardboard Challenge 3: Assemble Bowling Pins (or We Should Get a Laser Cutter)!

2018 September Experiential Learning Round Up!

Programming:
VA introduced 2 new maker tools this month:  sewing machines and Cricut. 

SLA led the first Intro to Machine Sewing workshop. She planned this introductory workshop including an easy-to-make drawstring bag project. Several staff members helped them refine their workshop by trying out the first project and providing feedback. The sewing machines will also be used during the Cosplay Collective Program.

I led the first Intro to Cricut workshop. Our first project was a 3 dimensional paper gift bag. Feedback indicated a need to promote this program as project-specific to help people better understand the utility of this tool.

SLA led the Make a Better World program. The group has decided to work on capes for children. The project will continue through October and be donated by the end of the month.

SLA continues to lead the weekly Craft Connections adult crafting program.

SLA led the monthly Intro to 3D Design and SLA led the 3D Printing Open Lab.  Due to popular demand, I led a workshop on 3D printing for Tabletop Gaming.

Youth SLAs resumed weekly story time programs with a revamped, more manageable schedule, as well as worked on collection maintenance, including the move of the hanging audiobook kits to the beginning of audiobooks and adding space for the new integrated audiobook items.  The youth services team has also worked hard to rearrange the youth services office in preparation for the start of the new Early Learning Librarian.

SLA led her popular Intro to Google Drive workshop, which was attending by SLA Melanie from Reference Services.

SLA facilitated the return of Girls Who Code with our volunteer facilitator, Regina.  We are working on a 9-week curriculum this year. I met the new club and am working with Regina to taylor the curriculum to stretch the girls a bit further out of their coding comfort zone.

VA’s newest 3D printer, Ruth Bader Printsburg, was sent back to Lulzbot due to a faulty extruder, after only being in use for two months.  VA’s older printer, Freddie Prints Jr. has been implemented into weekly use during VA’s Saturday D&D group.

Community Connections:
Our Maker Faire booth interacted with over 1,000 attendees. Full Maker Faire report.

District Collaboration:
11 staff members from around the district participated in the Maker Faire project.

I coordinated a meeting to push the district-wide 3D printer project forward. We all met and looked at our options for making the 3D printers as easy-to-use as possible and were able to come to an agreement. Amy, Bonnie, Sarah, and I will be working on training documentation for the other branches who are receiving a 3D printer.

Staff Development:
Dre and I are partnering on a building-wide project to involve all staff in developing building-wide service point training around a core set of expectations. This will provide an opportunity for every member of the leadership team to grow as a leader and facilitate conversation and cooperation among VA-staff who normally don’t work together. This will also provide VA staff the opportunity to have a voice in decision-making in the building regarding tasks they have the most knowledge and experience performing.  The ultimate goals are: 1). a cohesive training program that allows all staff the ability to get up-to-speed on all service points in a timely manner and 2). consistent expectations throughout the building.

Professional Development:
I have taken up the post-ASD evaluation and 2019 planning tasks for this project. I look forward to recruiting and working with a diverse sub-section of the district on the 2019 event.