Make:Co

When COVID-19 shut down in-person schools and clubs across the country this March, I had the incredible opportunity to become part of a team of educators who provided free online programs through Maker Camp. Throughout the Spring and Summer, then into the Fall, I hosted live-streamed workshops on a wide variety of topics. Here’s a playlist of all the fun projects we’ve done.

This Fall I launched my first multi-week workshop called Move and Groove with Makey Makey. Meeting over Zoom for 90 minutes, students and I built musical instructions and used code to make them play. Now, we’re expanding the offerings.

Now through the new Maker Campus platform, I’ll be offering a wide array of programs on all kinds of exciting topics such as coding, electronics, chemistry, crafts, and more.

Maker Campus Workshops

Make: Magazine, Make: Co, and Maker Camp have recently launched a new learning platform specially designed for Maker Education. Maker Campus is a place to connect, learn, and make together. Find enriching and interactive events including talks by expert makers, project demos, classes, virtual workshop tours, and more. I am very honored to be among the first educators to host programs through this effort.

Please take look at January offerings. More will be coming soon!

Make Stuff with micro:bit

Weekly on Thursdays, January 7-28, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Ages 8-14. $100/household

Make stuff. Learn to code. Have fun. In this class, you’ll join Maker Camp host and real-life educator, Sandy Roberts, as we explore, craft, and create together using the micro:bit.

The micro:bit by the BBC is an easy-to-code, inexpensive microcontroller designed to introduce kids to physical computing. By using Microsoft MakeCode, young coders can transform the micro:bit into a myriad of devices from game controllers to secret message senders, robots to weather stations. With tons of technology nestled into a board smaller than a credit card, the micro:bit provides many avenues for discovery and invention. In this workshop, we’ll build four different hands-on projects that explore a wide variety of applications for the micro:bit. Class size is limited!

Projects will include:
Hack-a-Badge – Learn the basics of micro:bit as you design your own unique name badge, perfect for any budding mad scientist or secret agent. We’ll start with simple things like creating a badge animation and flashing your name. Then we’ll discover how to send secret messages to others. Finally, we’ll customize our badges to report important data like the temperature, the direction you’re headed, how fast you’re moving, and more. Finish off your creation by wiring the microbit to your custom created badge front piece and show it off to the world!

Set-a-Trap – Protect your lab (or bedroom) with a sneaky set of traps and alarms designed to keep pesky parents and annoying siblings away from your stuff! We’ll start with a clever door alarm and then move on to more complex designs: a light-sensitive alarm and a pressure-sensitive alarm. We’ll even learn to design our own melodic alarm music. With these techy tools, you’ll never need to worry about being spied on again!

Build-a-Bot – Every mad scientist needs a monster robot to be his minion (and BFF)! So let’s build and code a bot of our own using the micro:bit and some junk from around the house! With this project, you’ll learn about some simple machines as you prototype and test your creation. Then go wild with the art supplies and give your bot some character!

Smack-a-S’more – Smack-a-S’more is the inventive take on “Whack a Mole” that puts both your crafting creativity and coding skills to use. We’ll start by making your own plushy S’more character out of upcycled materials. Then we’ll learn MS Code for the micro:bit to code a game that can be played by one or many. So get silly. Get hands-on. And get smart with this fantastic STEAM project!

Origami Circuit Insects

Tuesday, January 19, 6:00 – 7:30 pm EST
Ages 8-14. $20/household

Combine simple electronics with the centuries-old Japanese papercraft art of Origami. By adding LEDs and self-sticking motors we’re able to create 3D papercraft projects that move, light up, and blink! Explore art, design, engineering, and basic electronics as we craft together.

In this workshop, we’ll start by making a light-up firefly and butterfly as we build series and parallel circuits. Then use motors to make a cute ladybug and creepy spider that will wiggle around your workspace. Soon you’ll have a whole collection of fun buggy buddies!