GLOSSARY
- STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering + Math
- STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts + Math
- Maker: People of all ages who make things!
Vermont Makers STEAM Modules
(Developed in 2014 with support from Vermont Libraries and Makers Spark a Culture of Innovation, a a program funded by the Vermont Community Foundation and the University of Vermont).
Communities and places for Maker and STEAM education
- What is a Fab Lab?
- U of Vermont Fab Lab
- Vermont Engineering Initiative
- Vermont Makers
- Champlain Maker Faire (fall event + summer camp)
- What is a Hackerspace / Makerspace?
- Generator – a Maker Space in Burlington, VT
- Champlain College Maker Lab
Newsletters and Documents:
- STEAM-E-ZINE
- Design Thinking for Educators
- Design Thinking handout - Curso Sketchup Online
- Design Thinking banner for classrooms
Terms:
- Electrical Circuit
- Voltage, Current, Resistance and Ohms Law
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
- Conductive
- LED
Tools you might find in Fab Lab, Hacker Space or Maker Space:
- 3D Printer
- Laser Cutter
- Laser Scanner
- CNC Milling Machine
- Digital Embroidery Machine
How to locate Maker resources:
1. Take a class or a workshop, go to a program
2. Sign up for STEAM-e-ZINE to receive regular updates
3. Search this site for “resources”
4. Visit some of our favorite real-life and online resources for projects and programs
5. List of resources for libraries and maker spaces
1. Take a class or a workshop, go to a program
2. Follow us on social media and subscribe to STEAM-e-ZINE
3. Search this site (vermontmakers.org) to search for resources from local makers who have presented at Vermont Makers Meetups. Just search for “resources.”
4. There’s nothing that beats bringing in local community makers for in-person interaction, sharing and education – that’s why we are proud to host Vermont Makers Meetups. This said there are also fantastic resources online, here are two favorites:
San Francisco’s Eploratorium
The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art, and human perception located in San Francisco, California. We believe that following your curiosity and asking questions can lead to amazing moments of discovery, learning, and awareness and can increase your confidence in your ability to understand how the world works. We also believe that being playful and having fun is an important part of the process for people of all ages.
We create tools and experiences that help you to become an active explorer: hundreds of explore-for-yourself exhibits; a website with over 50,000 pages of content; film screenings; workshops for lifelong learners including day camps for kids and family investigations; evening art and science events for adults—plus much more. We also create professional development programs for educators, and are at the forefront of changing the way science is taught. We share our exhibits and expertise with museums worldwide.
SparkFun Electronics
SparkFun is an online retail store that sells the bits and pieces to make your electronics projects possible. No matter what your vision is, our products and resources are designed to make the world of electronics more accessible to the average person. In addition to products, SparkFun, through our Department of Education, offers classes and online tutorials designed to help educate individuals in the wonderful world of embedded electronics. Our ever-growing product catalog boasts over 2,000 components and widgets designed to help you unleash your inner inventor.
Adafruit Industries
Adafruit was founded in 2005 by MIT engineer, Limor “Ladyada” Fried. Her goal was to create the best place online for learning electronics and making the best designed products for makers of all ages and skill levels. Over the last 6 years Adafruit has grown to over 45 employees in the heart of NYC. Adafruit has expanded offerings to include tools, equipment and electronics that Limor personally selects, tests and approves before going in to the Adafruit store. Limor was the first female engineer on the cover of WIRED magazine and was recently awarded Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur of the year.
DIY.org
DIY is a community where young people become Makers. They discover new Skills, make projects in the real world, and share their work online to inspire and learn from each other.
The big idea is that anyone can become anything just by trying – we all learn by doing. Our company and our community strive to make it easier for Makers to build confidence in their own creativity.
Brain Games
Are you ready for a truly mind-blowing television experience? Brain Games returns with twelve new episodes, each chock full of interactive games and experiments designed to mess with your mind and reveal the inner-workings of your brain. Delving into topics like focus, fear, persuasion, decision-making and neural fitness, Brain Games turns your mind’s eye inwards for a profoundly entertaining and revealing journey into the three and a half pounds of tissue that makes you…you.
Please feel free to contact us! Let us know what you are looking for and we will do our best to help you find it!
