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To Parents Regarding Fitting a Program to a Child's Needs:
The goal of the small, targeted workshops at Build-It-Yourself is to develop a
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. Students
who want to focus on LEGO only may be happier in some of the alternative
programs listed below.
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 Build-It-Yourself exhibits which have been
in numerous museums including the The Science Museum and The
Smithsonian.
- 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
at Andover, is responsible for managing the documentation and maintenance of our online SQL database of construction tips.
Naseem, a freshman at Harvard, is developing multimedia content for our online database. Michael and Max,
freshmen at Choate and BB&N, 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.
Alternatives if you or your child are not comfortable with the rigor in the
small,
targeted workshops at the Build-It-Yourself Laboratory:
Those students who may not be ready for a rigorous approach to building and
presenting projects are likely to be disappointed in
the targeted workshops at the Build-It-Yourself Laboratory because they may not get the positive feedback and encouragement that others will get.
Please consider the following alternatives.
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/
Museum of Science:
Price varies - up to $15/hr. "Build. Invent. Be an engineer." Many
projects to choose from. Tend to be one-day workshops.
http://www.mos.org/doc/1100
617-589-0415
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 does not guide with the same rigor as is imposed on
the small, targeted groups that meet at the Build-It-Yourself laboratory.
Build-It-Yourself Online Workshops
Build-It-Yourself Workshops at local schools:
$8/hour to $15/hour depending on the local program. Contact Build-It-Yourself
for a schedule of these workshops.
Build-It-Yourself Workshops at the Build-It-Yourself Laboratory:
$17/hour. (Some Build-It-Yourself kids are invited without charge. Parents
of some Build-It-Yourself kids have made substantial contributions.)
Designed for kids who will ultimately be members of the Build-It-Yourself content development a delivery crews.
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