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To Parents Regarding Fitting a Program to a Child's Needs:
The goal of the on-site workshops at Build-It-Yourself is to develop a small group of kids who can help us demonstrate and explain our approach to creative building. We're looking for a few kids who have a passion for building, who are creative but highly disciplined and who present their ideas clearly, concisely and convincingly. We're especially keen to engage girls and artists.
What will students learn?
Presentation of ideas:
We spend a high percentage of workshop time drawing and decorating, developing storylines around our projects and presenting Build-It-Yourself to numerous visitors.
Respect for tools and materials:
Tool rules must be memorized and recited before anyone can build. Commonly found materials are collected, sorted and traded. Build-It-Yourself parts and tools must be well maintained.
Problem solving skills:
Students must develop the discipline to master practical skills in project planning, modular design, control logic, and teamwork.
Opportunities:
Students who follow the Build-It-Yourself approach to building are invited to:
- display their projects in the Build-It-Yourself window.
- post their projects on the Build-It-Yourself Web site.
- make presentations to schools and corporate partners.
- enter their projects in the Build-It-Yourself displays.
- join the Build-It-Yourself content development and content delivery teams.
A number of long-term, Build-It-Yourself students are working as content developers and workshop mentors. Anand, a senior in high school, is responsible for managing the documentation and maintenance of our online SQL database of construction tips. Naseem, who is taking a year off from Harvard, is developing multimedia content for our online database. Michael and Max, who are in middle school, are recording audio and video clips for our online database, and have presented their projects at MIT and to customers and corporate sponsors. We are collaborating with the MIT Media Lab. Consequently, these students do some of their work at MIT.
Those students who choose not to follow the Build-It-Yourself approach to building are likely to be disappointed in our on-site workshops because they may not get the positive feedback and encouragement that others will get.
Alternatives if you or your child are not comfortable
with the rigor in on-site Build-It-Yourself workshops:
Computer Clubhouse
No charge. There are 7 around the Boston area. Excellent resources. Freedom to come and go as you like and to work on your own projects at your own pace in your own style.
http://www.computerclubhouse.org/
MIT Museum
Free - $13/hour, Playful Inventions. Excellent resources and instructors. Appropriate for kids of all ages and disciplines.
http://www.mit.edu/~sdh/
First LEGO League
No charge if schools or corporations sponsor a team. $250 - $600 per FLL team plus parts. $250 for a 1 week summer camp or $8.33/hour. Highly competitive. Very sophisticated robotics challenges. Very well organized.
http://www.usfirst.org/jrobtcs/flego.htm
Build-It-Yourself Online Workshops.
$10/hour or less if 2-4 kids work together. These workshops are in the experimental stage. Kids are encouraged to follow the Build-It-Yourself approach to building. However, Build-It-Yourself will not insist on the same rigor as is imposed at on-site workshops.
Build-It-Yourself Online Workshops
Build-It-Yourself On-site Workshops.
$20/hour. Designed for kids who will ultimately be members of the Build-It-Yourself content development a delivery crews.
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