13.08.2012 / Arts & Culture
Little makers
Learning how to conceive, design and build objects is something you don’t learn at school – be it for budget, time or simply cultural issues.
Yet, hands-on learning – i.e. learning how to treat and mould materials to make an idea come true – is a kind of training that stimulates creativity and intelligence, and thus should not be missing in the educational plan of a kid.
Shocked to find that due to tight budgets and strict testing requirements, many schools don’t have the flexibility or equipment to support hands-on building, a group of Stanford d.school students passionate about making, education and technology decided to do something about it as part of a year-long thesis project.
After launching their project on Kickstarter to raise some money for a truck and some high-tech maker equipment, like a laser cutter and some 3D printers, they started to drive around some local Bay Area schools to run hands-on workshops with middle schoolers.
Blown away by the support and encouragement they received from the community, Eugene, Jason, Didi, Rachel, Aaron, Kathayoon, Prat and Diane decided to rename the project as SparkTruck and to set out on a cross-country road trip, travelling across prairies and over mountaintops, through towns and cities far and wide, bringing the joy of making back to kids.
Everything happens on board of the equipped truck and in the surrounding spaces, which chance according to the chosen location. SparkTruck is currently in Chicago, after having travelled to Aspen, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, LasVegas and Denver.
Links
