Category Archives: STEAM

Mapping Found Sounds: A day in the life at UVM

On October 20 a day in the life of UVM was documented moment by moment curso de paisagismo learn about ebaconline. Our project Mapping Found Sounds made the cut! The project engages engineering and computer science students at UVM in the creation of app that builds from a workshop we held last spring at the Fleming Museum.

2:56 p.m. Fab Lab, Votey Hall

Fab Lab

“This? Yes, I made this,” says engineering student Emily Bolt ’17. “It’s a ring that could measure vibration.” Bolt is a student manager of UVM’s Fab Lab and happy to demonstrate the lab’s MakerBot replicators, laser cutters, and 3D printers. As for the ring — made here in collaboration with some computer science students — she points to the dangling wires. “Yeah,” she says, “we still have a ways to go.”

For more on the Day in the Life at UVM story click here

More about the original Mapping Found Sounds Workshop 

 

STEM and Art & Technology Courses this summer!

Mapping_Sounds_buttonIf you didn’t get a chance to attend the Mapping Found Sounds workshop offered this past April, you can learn more from this Seven Days article. This spring workshop was a great kickoff for credited courses this summer.

For example, the  U of Vermont Fab Lab will be up and running this summer for an awesome three-week course called Innovate, Iterate, Make: The Art + Engineering of Rapid-Prototype Design. The first part will explore how innovators in engineering, contemporary art and architecture solve problems and advance ideas. Part 2 will have students learning how to design using open source hardware and programming, handmade electronics and rapid-prototyping tools! A lot of the class time will be dedicated to “Open Lab,” and students will have access to a plethora of resources and tools- how cool is that?

engineering_design High school juniors and seniors also have the opportunity to spend two weeks in the Fab Lab with our four-week Maker’s Academy (Vermont Fab Lab Workshop), part of UVM’s Summer Academy. Half the month of July will be spent on campus (housing is available) and the other half online; spend the whole month exploring how innovators in engineering, contemporary art, architecture, and the DIY maker movement solve problems and advance ideas. If engineering draft and design is of more interest to your pre-college student, be sure to check out CEMS’s Pre-Engineering Academy this summer, Engineering Design (Solid Works).

High-school students from around the state and US are getting ready to join us on campus for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont Engineering Institute. From July 11-18, students will get their hands dirty with projects that explore basic and advanced engineering concepts with their peers and professional experts. At the same time, teachers will also be on campus, but as students! Learning about how to better integrate the Next Generation Science Standards into their classrooms and enhance STEM and STEAM education, teacher-learners will be participating in one of CEMS’s Vermont Engineering Initiative courses, Engineering Design Principles.

 

 

 

 

Champlain Maker Faire Organizing Partners Update

Champlain Maker Faire Organizing Partners Update

By Doug Webster
Making in Vermont has come a long way since a 2011 Single Pebble lunchtime discussion with John Canning, Paul Zaloom (Nickelodeon’s Beakman’s World) Ben and Jerry, Doug Webster, Bruce Seifer, John Abele, Pat Burke, and Will Raap. Making is becoming popular in libraries, schools, colleges, museums, and communities.  Jenn Karson, who formed Vermont Makers says more than 500 students, parents and librarians attended 28 STEAM/making programs last summer and more than 1700 attended talks on making and innovation.

by-the-numbers-v3

Lucie deLaBruere and Greg Young ran multiple workshops for public school teachers on making to more than 100 from around Vermont. And, making is becoming more popular as an economic development force where viable businesses are spurred because of new low cost and accessible technologies.  New maker spaces have emerged such as Burlington Generator and in the not too distance future the Upper Valley Maker Space (White River and Claremont) and The Foundry (Lyndon/St Johnsbury) doors will be opening.  More community makerspaces are being planned in Brattelboro, Rultand, Bennington, Shelburne, and Townshend to name a few. Thanks to supporters of the Champlain Maker Faire, the fair is the catalyst that ignites interest in making statewide and beyond.

Champlain Maker Faire 2014 was another huge success, with more than 1750 people in attendance despite the rainy Saturday.  Sunday’s ChampBot Challenge went beyond expectations with 7 teams registered and a mini champ that did circles around the course (and other Champs!).  The winners included:
#1  Robots are for Kids Too….$2,500 Cash Prize
#2  Rutland Area Robotics….$1,500
#3  Jake Nealy….$500
Honorable Mention:  Team ZMR and South Burlington High School Big Picture

The Winners:  Robots are for Kids Too, Christine and Kevin Braun, Team Leaders

Thanks and Appreciation
CMF would like to thank this year’s sponsors including:  United Technologies Aerospace Systems, Pizzagalli Properties, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Vermont Agency of Commerce, Connecticut College of Technology Next Generation Manufacturing, University of Vermont Office of the Vice President of Research, Meach Cove Farms, FairPoint Communications, Vermont Technology Council, FabTech, University of Vermont College for Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Superior Technical Ceramics, IEEE, DesignBook, Burlington Telecom, Chroma/89 North, Hallam ICS, Hagan Marketing, Seven Days, Summit Technologies, and 97.5 Eagle Country.

CMF also wants to thank Volunteers and the CMF Operations Team who made the event happen including:  John Cohn, Jenn Karson, Ken Howell, Jon Bondy, Bruce Cowan, Chris Davis, John Abele, Cecilia Telefus, Erin Boyd, Liz Ropi, Lorrie Sulva, Heather Morris, Joshua Jackson, Abby Peterson, Jesse Krembs, and Ara Hagan.  Also, many thanks to the makers and presenters made the event cool, entertaining and exciting.

So where does Making occur?
With making among communities, schools, libraries, homes, and workplaces what are the different types of making and makers?  The figure below helps explain.

Making is about…
1 Igniting interest of all ages to inspire, create and innovate using the newest and sometimes not so new tools, technologies, and methods.  This can occur at makerspaces in libraries, museums, k-8 education setting, families, and community makerspaces.  Maker Faire simulates interest in making.
2. Novice makers share and collaborate on solutions to complex challenges that involve open, honest, and constructive dialogue – this can occur in secondary education, career and technical education, community maker spaces, households, and in college labs and makerspaces.  Maker Faires are a catalyst for bringing makers together.
3. Advanced makers create things that have a broad appeal and can be presented in the marketplace including inventions, innovations, and applications in the commercial world.  This can occur anywhere in the Maker Spectrum however is more likely in a mature makerspace, college makerspace, or high end makerspace with state-of-the-art tools and equipment.  Maker Faire connects entrepreneurs and collaborators.

Things in the Making

Wearables Mixer at Burlington Generator, 250 Main Street, Thursday December 18 5:30pm…bring items to show and share and/or wear;

 

Farm and Food Tech Social Meet-up at Burlington Generator, 250 Main Street, Thursday January 15, 5:30-7:30…for farmers, food business entrepreneurs, hackers and software developers;

Creating Prosperity and Opportunity Confronting Climate Change – February 18…scientists, innovative business, community leaders will look at the impacts and potential opportunities of climate change.

2015 Champlain Maker Faire – September 26 & 27 2015 Shelburne Farms Coach Barn…same fair, new twists, new maker challenges in addition to ChampBot.  What will YOU make?

   

   

CMF National Innovation Education Institute – September 28 & 29, 2015  Burlington Hilton…new endeavor to grow making education in partnership with ASU, Purdue, Connecticut College of Technology and many others;

CMF’s Renewed Culture of Innovation TV Series – “Makers on Screen”.  Production startsJanuary 21st 2015…local makers will be interviewed every Wednesday on RETN TV.  Contactinfo@champlainmakerfaire.com if interested in being a guest;

Create, Make, Learn Summer Institute – July 13-17, 2015  Burlington Generator…is a series of professional development opportunities for educators to experience the power of learning through creating and making.  See more at www.CreateMakeLearn.org;

ArtDuino Challenge Camp – August 3-7 2015 Shelburne Farms Coach Barn…2014 supported by Cognizant Inc., Making the Future.  This year is a challenge camp with focus on ROV, Drone, Ag, Dance.  See www.champlainmakerfaire.com for details coming up.

Joe Chase and mentors run ArtDuino workshop at 2014 New York World Maker Faire.

Makers Academy – UVM, Summer 2015 with Jenn Karson…experience the convergence of art and technology in engineering, contemporary art, and the DYI maker movement.  Dates TBA;

Engineering Design Principles for High School Teachers – UVM, July 11-18…Next Generation Science Standards necessitate that k-12 classes weave engineering design into their science and math curricula.

For more information, contact info@champlainmakerfaire.com

 

2014 was a STEAM-Y year for Vermont!

In summer 2014 the pilot program Vermont Librarians and Makers Spark a Culture of Innovation produced 28 STEAM programs across the State of Vermont thanks to funding by the Vermont Community Foundation and UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. The curriculum was designed by Vermont Makers, Champlain Maker Faire provided exhibition space and library participation was organized by the Vermont Department of Libraries. Here’s a glimpse at the program’s success by the numbers…download the pdf version of this report here.

STEAM Vermont Programs

2014 was a STEAM-Y Year for Vermont!
As reported by….

Vermont Public Radio:
Making it

The “maker movement” is taking hold in Vermont. That’s a somewhat odd name that captures technology, design, innovation and a strong DIY spirit. On this Vermont Edition, we talk about how communities of “makers” are using high-tech tools to solve problems, create art and start a conversation about technology in our lives. Our guests are Jenn Karson of Vermont Makers and Doug Webster of the Champlain Mini-Maker Faire.http://digital.vpr.net/post/making-it

WCAX and Across the Fence: ‪
VT Makers & Librarians showcase STEAM on Across The Fence

New England Cable Network:
Making the grade: Innovative approach to STEM Teaching

More about Spark a Culture STEAM modules and program partners can be found here

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported these programs! We certainly did “Spark a Culture of Innovation” in Vermont in 2014.

Partners on the grant included Vermont Makers, UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Champlain Maker FaireCraftsbury Public Library, Vermont Public Library Foundation, The Vermont State Department of Libraries, and the Vermont Library Association. The stats in this document are provided by Vermont Makers.

Join us for late summer programs…plan for the fall

Save the Date!

2014_AIKEN_BANNER_1

Neri Oxman
A new approach to Nature-Inspired Design and Egineering

Thursday 10/2/14
Ira Allen Chapel
Sponsored by UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences | Aiken Lecture Series
Learn More

Things to do and start in August….

Break it! Build it!

Through  September 13, 2014
Burlington City Arts Center

Break It! Build It! is an exhibition focusing on artists who embody the DIY spirit. Artists in the exhibition break, crush, destroy, and manipulate everyday objects to build, invent, and create their work.  Artists Included : Christopher Abrams, Colin Brahmstedt, John Cohn, Maxwell Cohn, Eric Hall, Beatriz Herrera, Ken Howell, Jenn Karson, Keegan Kuvach, Kristin Rogers

Critical Making Discussion

Wednesday August 20th @ 6:30pm
Burlington City Arts Center

Join artist Jenn Karson and BCA curator DJ Hellerman for an open, community dialogue about Critical Making and Burlington’s place in bridging the gap between creative physical and conceptual exploration.

Call For Makers!

Exhibit at Champlain Mini Maker Faire. Open until August 10.
Learn More

In The News:

Vermont Edition, Vermont Public Radio
Noon and 7pm, August 7

Vermont Edition will interview Doug Webster of Champlain Maker Faire and Jenn Karson and Ken Howell of Vermont Makers about the Vermont maker movement. Makers all around the state are encouraged to phone in!

Across the Fence, UVM Extension 
August 12, 2014, 12:10 pm on WCAX
Featuring “Toy Hacking” from this summer’s “Vermont Makers and Librarians Spark a Culture of Innovation”

Across the Fence is the longest running daily farm and home television program in the country. Across the Fence is a 15 minute program produced by University of Vermont Extension. The program airs weekdays at 12:10 pm on WCAX TV, Channel 3.

Vermont Libraries and Makers Spark a Culture of Innovation

Late summer programs
Please preregister with participating libraries. There is a limit of 20 participants per workshop.

Program descriptions at STEAM-e-ZINE

Aldrich Public Library

6 Washington St, Barre, VT 05641
(802) 476-7550

  • Creative Creatures: August 8, 1-4pm

Castleton Free Library

638 Main St, Castleton, VT 05735
(802) 468-5574

  • E-textiles: August 7, 6-9pm

Quechee Public Library
1957 Quechee Main St, Quechee, VT 05059
(802) 295-1232

  • Creative Creatures August 9, 11am-2pm

Westford Public Library
1717 Vermont 128, Westford, VT 05494
(802) 878-5639
www.westfordpubliclibrary.org

  • E-textiles August 7,  6-9

Fairfax Community Library
75 Hunt St, Fairfax, VT 05454
(802) 849-2420

  • Squishy Circuits August 16, 10-1pm