Makercart outreach: Helping libraries connect with local schools

On Sept. 14th 2017 we deliver our first Artefacto/Makercart School workshop at Redbridge Central Library Lab Central.

We’ve been working with Redbridge Library for over a year now, first delivering a Creative Coding workshop during London Tech Week 2016 where we made some interactive Scratch games using Makey Makey.

Workshop 1

 

Over the last few months we’ve been helping Redbridge Library set up their Lab Central makerspace. We’ve been advised them as part of their Arts Council England Innovation funding and supplied them with a custom Makercart, containing a bunch of Makey Makeys, littleBits and Ozobots (and Microbits Experiment kit for good measure)

Just before the summer we attended their Lab Central launch and deliver training sessions for their staff and volunteers so they could deliver their Maker Education workshops during the holidays.

So on the 14th Sept. we went to the Lab Central to deliver our first School workshop. We were glad to hear there’s been great interest from Schools in coming to the lab and getting involved. And although it was bit daunting to organise a school workshop, as were used to deliver Maker Education session with smaller groups, we were looking forward to seeing how our plans unfolded…

In order to manage the Intro to Creative Technology workshop, we divided the class into 3 groups, each doing a different activity in a carrousel. The three activities we delivered were: Intro to scratch and making games interactive, inventing with littleBits and colourful coding with Ozobots. The aim of this session was to offer a taste of how you can get creative using technology while learning about coding, electronics and robotics.

So after delivering the first couple of sessions, we’re happy to report that children really enjoyed the sessions and getting access to the lab and these technologies in a very different learning environment from what they’re used to!

They liked getting hands on and being allowed time to explore the activities at their own pace.

And they all said they want to come back for more… Some of their comments included:

“It was fun! I learn lots of things that I didn’t know”

“It was good to see technology in a Library where you only expect to see books”

“I think it’s awesome. You are basically learning while you are having fun”

And the class teachers were equally enthusiastic, stating that:

“I love all of it. To see it on action was amazing. And I’m a person that is not used to use technology, now I’m a bit more confident to use it” Samar – Year 5 teacher at Winston Primary School”

“I have never seen them talk that much. There is an autistic child in the class that it´s been completely engaged. They all have been engaged. It’s been the best trip so far. We all have enjoyed ourselves” Carla Duber – Year 5 Teacher at Winston Way Primary School

If you like to find out more about how you can work with us to deliver Maker Education workshops please contact us HERE.

And finally, if you’re a fellow Maker Educator or a teacher with interest in Make Education and would like to link up with others please join our newly launch Makered.IO a community forum we’ve just launch and join us in getting CREATIVE WITH TECHNOLOGY