Maker C.R.E.A.T.E Boot Camps
Creating Reality with Electronics, Art and Technology in Education
Re-discover the art of ‘learning by making’ and empower your students to tinker, design and make things using recycled materials and consumer electronics.
Teachers from any NSW school can book these full day excursions to MacICT. Our boot camps give students the opportunity to have the time, space and purpose to tinker. They provide a context for inquiry and discovery, leading students to become active problem solvers and engage in their own learning. These are critical practices for learning and discovery that have application across all curriculum areas.
Our Boot Camps are introductory and are designed for beginners. However they are flexible in nature so please let us know if you would like to work with us to design a day that meets your students’ needs.
In this excursion, students will participate in tactile building tasks and electronic circuit wiring, as well as specific computer coding activities for older students. Program, build and electrify activities will address a real world need, and students can also take their projects home to keep! Total cost is inclusive of all materials required.
Our MakerDay C.R.E.A.T.E! Boot Camps were first inspired by the growing popularity of D.I.Y. building and tinkering projects that have now reached epic proportions in the United States. Research around this phenomenon has, among other things, highlighted that the art of making is inherently a human activity and one that is very satisfying. The resurgence of the ‘Maker’ movement has expanded to include the ability to code and program for the demands of an increasingly digital and automated world.
Keywords: Creative & Critical Thinking, STEM, STEAM, Coding, Engineering Design, Science & Maths K-10, Programming
Year 1 to Year 6 students
This workshop offers students the opportunity to design and create models with recycled materials and integrate with electronic components.
In this workshop we can cover:
- working with cardboard and engineering a design for a toy or something useful for the home
- using LittleBits technology
- creating electronic circuits with consumer electronics
- making a take-home project.
Year 7 to Year 10 students
In this workshop students learn to program Arduino development boards to control and interact with their environment. They experience physical computing where their computer program commands make things happen in the physical world.
In this workshop students can:
- learn about and create electronic circuits with consumer electronics
- learn to create basic programs in the Arduino language ( a form of C/C++)
- learn how to control electronic circuits with an Arduino
- learn about the types of sensors and actuators that can be controlled by microcontrollers
- make a real world prototype using an Arduino and recyclable materials.
Optionally, schools can purchase the Arduino Experimenters Kits ($100 each) for students to take with them for use back in the classroom. Let us know how many kits you would like when booking in.
Book now
Contact us now to enquire about booking in your class.
Term 4 2016 is now fully booked. Unfortunately, we are unable to take bookings for 2017. Apologies for any inconvenience.
DoE schools will be direct debited by the NSW DoE. Non-DoE schools will be invoiced after the event based on final student numbers.
Note: cancellations made within 2 days of the event will incur a $200 cancellation fee.
Facilitators
John Burfoot
Developer & Facilitator
John is our lead LEGO® robotics facilitator and has worked as part-time school teacher with the Catholic Education Office in Sydney, specialising in science and robotics. He holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree, a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, and is a qualified electronics technician. John has facilitated hundreds of LEGO® robotics workshops to teachers and students across Sydney, including State, Catholic and Independent schools. He has consulted for LEGO® Australia, Moore Educational Pty Ltd, and the Southern Region CEO, Sydney. John has presented and spoken at numerous educational conferences, including the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, ICT Educators of NSW, St George & Sutherland Community College and the NSW Priority Schools Program’s Equity Conference at Darling Harbour.
Kylie Stanley
Facilitator
Kylie began working for MacICT 2013, in a hands-on teaching role running day-long Boot Camps in Robotics. Kylie has a passion for technology and innovation, and enjoys working with students to explore and problem-solve using new and engaging technologies. Kylie holds a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Education) and a Bachelor of Education (Primary). She is also Early Childhood trained and holds a Diploma in Children’s Services. In addition to MacICT, Kylie has 10 years experience working in areas of curriculum and teaching and learning in the higher education sector.
Sarah Boyd
Developer & Facilitator
Dr Sarah Boyd is a LEGO® Robotics facilitator and part-time high school teacher of Computing and Mathematics. She has recently retrained as a teacher having had a long career as a software programmer and Electrical Engineer. She began facilitating at MacICT in 2014 where she combines her engineering and programming background with her love of teaching. She completed her PhD in Computer Science at Macquarie University in 1999.
