Here’s an update with what we’re up to. There’s a lot going on. Unless otherwise stated, all activities take place at Guildford library. People can book places on the events via www.guildfordmakerspace.org.uk/
Digital Friday:
This is the concept of monthly workshops for adults, mainly. We’ve rebranded this as “Makerspace: Get Involved” and have a programme planned that looks like this:
This is the concept of monthly workshops for adults, mainly. We’ve rebranded this as “Makerspace: Get Involved” and have a programme planned that looks like this:
Junior Games Creators workshops.
· March: Innovate Guildford, a Stellarium workshop (sold out), and a
· March: Innovate Guildford, a Stellarium workshop (sold out), and a
Raspberry Jam.
· April: Scanning workshop
· May: Robotics event.
· April: Scanning workshop
· May: Robotics event.
That’s as far as we have planned; later in the year we’re going to run workshops on digital storytelling, gaming, virtual reality and 3D printing.
Digital Club:
Saturday 11 February was the last day of the pilot club for 8-12 year olds, and the children now have a grounding in the Kano computers and the technologies on them. Each was asked to develop a concept for some futuristic transport, which ranged from flying machines to teleportation, and to demonstrate it in Minecraft coding. Marieme Jamme, our backer, presented Kano Computers to the winners, and is putting £1000 into helping the children develop the concepts further; in addition the whole club will be invited to Kano headquarters to see a hugely successful startup in action. We’re now planning a new club, so that we can take in a new batch of beginners, and the current club members will progress onto Littlebits electronics. We’re talking to staff and volunteers about clubs at other libraries, and the next ones to set up are likely to be at Dorking and Merstham libraries.
Saturday 11 February was the last day of the pilot club for 8-12 year olds, and the children now have a grounding in the Kano computers and the technologies on them. Each was asked to develop a concept for some futuristic transport, which ranged from flying machines to teleportation, and to demonstrate it in Minecraft coding. Marieme Jamme, our backer, presented Kano Computers to the winners, and is putting £1000 into helping the children develop the concepts further; in addition the whole club will be invited to Kano headquarters to see a hugely successful startup in action. We’re now planning a new club, so that we can take in a new batch of beginners, and the current club members will progress onto Littlebits electronics. We’re talking to staff and volunteers about clubs at other libraries, and the next ones to set up are likely to be at Dorking and Merstham libraries.
Makerspace and business incubation space:
We’re talking to Barclays about opening an Eagle Lab at Guildford library – a combination makerspace and business incubation hub. It’s likely to be a fast project, they want to have it completed by June 2017. They would provide the funding to make it happen, and we would split the subsequent income with them 70-30. We haven’t signed any agreement with them yet, so it could all go horribly wrong, but they’re busy working on CAD plans as I write.
We’re talking to Barclays about opening an Eagle Lab at Guildford library – a combination makerspace and business incubation hub. It’s likely to be a fast project, they want to have it completed by June 2017. They would provide the funding to make it happen, and we would split the subsequent income with them 70-30. We haven’t signed any agreement with them yet, so it could all go horribly wrong, but they’re busy working on CAD plans as I write.
Womens STEM club:
Today, we launched a women’s STEM club (science, technology, engineering, maths). There are a lot of women in Guildford who have left work to have families, and are trying to plan their careers. With Iamthecode and our many partners, we will bring in resources for them to learn whatever they like, with the Iamthecode curriculum at the core (based on coding, electronics, blogging and vlogging, computing, 3d printing, and other technologies). The club will run on Thursdays between 10 and noon and starts officially on 2 March.
Today, we launched a women’s STEM club (science, technology, engineering, maths). There are a lot of women in Guildford who have left work to have families, and are trying to plan their careers. With Iamthecode and our many partners, we will bring in resources for them to learn whatever they like, with the Iamthecode curriculum at the core (based on coding, electronics, blogging and vlogging, computing, 3d printing, and other technologies). The club will run on Thursdays between 10 and noon and starts officially on 2 March.
Minecraft club:
In March we’re starting an after school minecraft club for 8-12 year olds, thanks to a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer (which means it’ll run for 3 months). We’re looking for a volunteer to support him. No start date agreed yet, so we are not promoting it yet.
In March we’re starting an after school minecraft club for 8-12 year olds, thanks to a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer (which means it’ll run for 3 months). We’re looking for a volunteer to support him. No start date agreed yet, so we are not promoting it yet.
Woking Makerday:
On Sunday June 4th we’re holding a making festival at Woking library: an event to encourage children and adults to pursue their interests around STEM and more traditional arts and crafts. Organisations signed up so far include Code Club, Trotec, Makecreatecraft, EARS, the Surrey and Hampshire Makerspace, Noisy Pompoms, Iamthecode, the Tech Cauldron, and SCC’s Adult Learning. There will be thirty stands, two workshop areas, and (hopefully) 500 attendees.
On Sunday June 4th we’re holding a making festival at Woking library: an event to encourage children and adults to pursue their interests around STEM and more traditional arts and crafts. Organisations signed up so far include Code Club, Trotec, Makecreatecraft, EARS, the Surrey and Hampshire Makerspace, Noisy Pompoms, Iamthecode, the Tech Cauldron, and SCC’s Adult Learning. There will be thirty stands, two workshop areas, and (hopefully) 500 attendees.
Miscellaneous:
- A local company, 3D Enterprise on the Slyfield Industrial Estate, is helping us with the concept of turning the library mascot (Pebble) into a 3D scanned image which we could then 3D print as often as we want. If you know anybody who can help us turn a 2D cartoon into a 3D clay or plasticine figure which we could then scan, please let me know.
- High Altitude Ballooning: one of our volunteers intends to run a HAB project for around 12 children over Easter. The equipment is provided by the Raspberry Pi foundation, and the project involves sending a Raspberry Pi, a Gopro camera, and a stuffed teddy bear into space. (Or nearly.)
- In August Iamthecode will be running a Hackathon on the subject of sustainable development goals.
Helen Leech, Senior Manager, Digital Services, Surrey Library Service: Helen.leech@surreycc.gov.uk
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