February Break Sci-Tech Camp 2023: Robo Tech

Coding + Robotics + Legos

February 20th – 24th | Mon. – Fri. | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

**Ages* 7-13 yrs old • Limited Space • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio • Intense Learning • Expert Instructors**

Code, Invent, and Create!

Join the STEAM-Team in this week-long (Mon-Fri) Sci-Tech February Boot Camp, as we build solid foundations in programming and robotics. Program your invention to perform specific tasks, avoid obstacles, follow lines, respond to sounds, make sounds, and more! Unlock the robotic capabilities of this Lego-compatible robot as you explore programming, STEM, and critical thinking.

*Basic reading and keyboard/mouse skills needed. Contact us for individual recommendations.

Registration Open

Posted on November 29, 2022December 2, 2022 by Allie

STEAMwhiz Winter 2022 News & Events

How can minecraft be used as an educational tool?

MINECRAFT- Changing the Way Our Students Learn

Yes, we are talking about the video game MINECRAFT and yes we are using MINECRAFT to change how our students learn. But you still might asking:

1) Why bring MINECRAFT into the lab?

2) How can MINECRAFT help my child learn problem-solving skills and develop critical thinking?

3) How will MINECRAFT engage my child and help skills they need for THEIR future?

To help answer those questions, let’s dive into the Top 3 Reasons STEAMwhiz is using MINECRAFT to empower the next generation of thinkers & doers.

Winter Classes Begin 12/6/2022

Intermediate/Advance Students 8-13 yrs

Minecraft Fractal Coding

Winter Semester

Skill Up in Math, Science, Technology + More

Math • Coding • CAD • Physical Computing

Registration OPEN | December 6, 2022 – March 10, 2023 | Limited Spots Available

Is your student ready to Level-Up their coding skills? Explore, Test, and Apply CODING fundamentals in Minecraft gameplay using Scratch, Logo, PiBlock, and Python languages to create a robot ‘smart’ enough to execute your commands and designs! Students will get hands-on with 3D printing, coding, robotics, physical computing, laser cutting, die cutter, computer-aided design & more. Read below to find out how STEAMwhiz uses Minecraft in the lab to develop and support analytical & critical thinking skills to promote creative problem-solvers!

Limited Space • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio • Intense Learning • Expert Instructors

Intermediate/Advance Students (8-13 yrs)

Hello world! Part I

BEGINNER THINKERS DOERS
6-8 YRS OLD

Winter Semester | December 6, 2022 – March 10, 2023

Explore Coding, Robotics, & Legos and Skill Up in Math, Science, Technology + More

Reserved for our beginner STEAMwhiz Kids | Ages 6 – 8 yrs old | We focus on building logic skills, getting hands-on w/fun tech, VISUALLY based early exposure to ○ science ○ math ○ circuits ○ engineering ○ coding ○ robotics ○ automation ○ that doesn’t depend on READING!

STEAMwhiz students will Level Up their ‘thinking & doing’ by exploring coding, robotics, and Legos to build their skills in (S)cience (T)ech (E)ngineering (A)rt (M)ath and solve the challenge – Can you program a robot to drive and create a design pattern?

Each semester your student will be hands-on with a variety of 21st-century tools and skills such as 3D printing, coding, robotics, physical computing, laser cutting, die cutting, computer-aided design & more!

JOIN ANY TIME!

Our Academic Programs begin in the Fall of every year. Each semester ends with a cool hands-on STEAM project that the student create and get to take home! Fall is the best time to join as we integrate a scaffolding and spiral approach to our yearly STEAM thematic curriculum. This means we hit the same core concepts every semester to reinforce the main learning objectives for the academic year. You also have reservation priority for your place for the entire academic school year. You don’t need to do anything special, enrollment will just roll over to the next semester automagically 🥳🤓 At the beginning of each academic year, there is a special enrollment period for students from the prior semester to ensure they have continuity in their educational journey.

Joining our Program throughout the Year

Don’t fret though if you found out about us later, or something came up, you can still sign up. If there is a spot, whether it’s winter, two weeks into the semester, etc., if they are interested let’s get them in class and learning! Reach out to us and we will create a plan to get them up to speed in no time 🙌

Waiting List

We are so thankful to be able to serve our local Capital District Community by offering innovative courses to get our kids ready for the future. We are growing, which is great! This also means we are in the process of exploring options for future expansion. In the meantime, if you are interested in a particular time of day that is not available, Contact Us and we will do our best to work with you. We also have a waitlist and will contact you as soon as a spot becomes available. Read below to find other ways that STEAMwhiz is working with our local community to reach more students.

In the community

Hamagrael Elementary, St. Gregory's School, STEM High, Local Libraries, Oh my...

SUPPORTING LOCAL

As our STEAMwhiz HQ reaches maximum lab capacity, we are finding exciting solutions to have an even greater impact!

Part 1) We have engineered one-of-a-kind STEAMwhiz Mobile PC workstations! This allows us to bring the same advanced STEAM lab programs we run in our HQ to locations that are more accessible to many of our families & students.
Part 2) We are forging new relationships with our local Capital District NY organizations that are looking to push boundaries and provide cutting-edge opportunities for our young students!
Part 3) We have something amazing in the works to reach even more students not only in our local area but across the USA. We are working on a teaser trailer so please stay tuned!!

SCHOOLS

This Fall we successfully launched pilot programs at Hamagrael Elementary and St. Gregory’s School. We are also working to serve our high school students at the STEM High School at HVCC by creating programs specifically to prepare them for college-level science and math courses. We want to thank the parents, staff, administrators, and students for making it an amazingly positive success. A special thank you to the parents and staff who put in the extra energy and overcome barriers to make it happen. You are the difference makers😍 Your efforts will ripple through for not only current students but those that follow behind them. Together we are #BeingTheChangeWeWantTooSee in the🌎

LIBRARIES

The fun doesn’t end there though…recently we meet with our wonderful librarians at Guilderland Public Library where they experienced one of our STEAM labs 💥🚀 They did a great job designing 3D parts using Computer Aided Design software on our STEAMwhiz Pi’s. Even better we are finalizing programs with GPL. If you haven’t checked them out since the recent renovations we encourage you to visit, as they are an amazing resource for our town. Also, don’t forget to take a peek at GPL’s Events Calendar for STEAM nights. We hope to team up with GPL and offer an exciting Robotics Series next year too 🤞 Finally, we are currently in discussion with Colonie Public Library to participate in their 1, 2, 3 Discover program in February-March 2023. Check out CPL’s Events Calendar which is full of amazing offerings for our local community. Make sure too reach out to GPL and CPL to get details and let them know you ❤ STEAMwhiz 😁

IS YOUR SCHOOL/LIBRARY MISSING OUT?

If you are also looking for Advanced Lab Program opportunities for your student, contact your local Parent Teacher Association + School Administrators. Let them know that you want STEAMwhiz at your school! Similarly, reach out to your local library and let them know that you want STEAMwhiz to enrich your children’s education by exposing them to 21st-Century Tools, Skills, and Learning Objectives such as; Coding Fundamentals • Robotics • 3D Printing • The Engineering Design Process • Analytical & Critical Thinking • Creative Problem Solving and more…

Feb. 20-24 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 pm

February Break - Robo Tech Camp

Coding + Robotics + Legos

Code, Invent, and Create!

21st-Century Tools, Skills, and Learning Objectives:

Coding Languages (Visual + Syntax) • Coding Fundamentals • Robotic Technologies • Engineering Design Process • Analytical & Critical Thinking

REGISTER TODAY

Stay in Sync with STEAMwhiz

Follow all STEAMwhiz’s latest news, educational articles, and more here.

Check out our MakerLabs and Events here.

Create An Account And Never Miss A Beat With Our In-Person STEM Programs Covering Coding, 3d Printing, Laser Cutting, Robotics, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) And So Much More.

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Posted on November 28, 2022March 25, 2024 by Dr JP

Using New Tools to Teach Advanced Concepts – Minecraft Create!!

What is Minecraft & How Can it Teach 21st Century Skills?

Don’t let the blocky design fool you into thinking this game is basic!! There are ‘deep layers‘ to Minecraft (pun intended for my Block Heads 🤣). For parents trying to figure out what Minecraft is and if it’s safe I understand! Answer: Yes, it is safe. I learned to play the game in order to figure that out myself. Now it’s an immersive family activity where we all can have fun together. It does have some exciting & maybe even scary characters for little ones like zombies and endermen. Word of caution, it does introduce the concept of ‘killing’ whether it’s to defend yourself from attack or via farming. There are weapons such as swords, bow & arrows, etc. but no guns.

Minecraft is an open world in which you gather materials to eat, build, and create. The gameplay/mechanics can be as deep as you want them to be. In Creative Mode you have all the materials available to you so that you can just focus on creating without having to worry about being attacked by a mob or how to gather/’mine’ materials. In Survival Mode you must hunt and gather just like you would in the real world. I suggest you go chop down a tree to start ‘crafting’ items like a door and create a shelter to protect yourself from attacking mobs at night time 😬 There are some great resources online a simple google search will pull up to learn more. I also suggest checking out Youtube to see some of the amazing things done in Minecraft.

Ok you may be asking, “Dr J how does this relate to learning?!?” To help answer this question, let’s dive into the Top 3 Questions on How STEAMwhiz Uses Minecraft as an Educational Tool!

How Minecraft can be used for Education

1. Problem Solving

The default game in Minecraft is called Survival Mode. It’s an open world where the main objective is to survive. You need to build shelter, figure out food to sustain yourself, and if you are crafty, you can figure out how to mine for diamonds and hunt the Ender Dragon. The are so many layers of problem-solving for example: how do you build a house, create doors, can you farm animals, which animals are okay to eat, is it better to build near water or in a forest, where are the best places to mine, how can you craft new items? Players can test theories, ideas, try new things, and experience failure in a safe way and then repeat.

But what about “cheat” videos, where kids go on Youtube and learn how to do things on their own by copying what others post? Often kids won’t find exactly what they want so they research partial solutions and create entirely new solutions, awesome. This is not very different than finding solutions in the real world, whether they dive into a physics books, scientific research papers, or even a Youtube video. Kids will quickly learn about good and bad sources once they try to copy builds off Youtube.

2. Exercising the Creative Muscle

Minecraft is a true sand-box game. What does that mean? A sandbox game is a video game with a gameplay element that provides the player a great degree of creativity to interact with, usually without any predetermined goal, or in other words, with a goal that the player sets for themself.

The first shelter I ever created was a hole in the side of a mountain to hide from mobs XD But that was a limitation of my imagination. Players have recreated beautiful works of art, medieval castles, the statue of liberty, and even entire cities…block-by-block. The possibilities are endless! Creative Mode is an excellent way to unleash this creativity, especially for younger children. All the resources are available to them, they don’t have to worry about being attacked, and they can fly in the air as they build. All they have to do is imagine what they want to build and develop some GRIT as they start to build block-by-block. They can even custom design their avatar to look like a ninja or supergirl.

Learning electrical circuits and logical gates in Minecraft. a) Shows the circuit diagram of a 4-input AND gate b) Is the circuit built in Minecraft using Redstone. The torch will only turn on if all 4 wood plates are being pressed down =D

An even deeper layer – let’s take it to the next level! Minecraft has a system of making machines. Redstone is a resource that you can mine deep in the earth and is the equivalent of copper wires and electricity. You can build complex machines to automate tasks that take forever to do manually. Students can learn about electricity flow, repeaters, logical gates, and building cool machines all using Redstone. The outlets for self-expression are amazing!!

3. Modern Skills Development

The benefits keep adding up! Minecraft helped my kids learn to read, apply math fundamentals, and develop critical computer skills early. The game also encourages kids to develop logical reasoning. For example, mastering Redstone requires rigorous logical thinking. It teaches the essentials of computer programming, including debugging circuits to find solutions. At STEAMwhiz we also use Minecraft to develop challenges that require teamwork which provides students with a safe environment in order to develop communication skills, conflict resolution, plan development, and leadership. All critical skills are needed in the real world.

Furthermore, we take it to next level yet again by teaching students how to write code to HACK into the Minecraft world using the world’s most powerful coding languages like Python and Java. We really blow their minds when we bridge the physical world by connecting LEDs, buzzers, and buttons that they can code to bridge the Minecraft virtual world to the real physical world by making sounds, teleporting at the push of a button, or creating a diamond detector that lights up an LED when near a diamond resource! This area of study is known as Physical Computing and I have used it throughout my physics career; whether to look at individual atoms on a multi-million dollar Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) at Brookhaven National Lab or to probe the magnetic moment of elements at the billion-dollar Advance Light Source synchrotron at Lawrence Berkley National Lab. I learned these skills during college — What will these young innovators come up with when they are starting as early as 6 years old?!

Get Started

Our SciTech Summer Camp is a great place to begin. It is Minecraft centric and goes deep into STEM!

Minecraft is available across most major platforms. We encourage you try it out for yourself. To download it and get started click here . This is a great starting tutorial for Survival Mode. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out and we will try to get you pointed in the right direction 😉

Winter Semester 2022 – STEAM Fractals

Registration Open

Hall-O-STEAM 2022

Glowing 3D pumpkins?! Yes, please! In this guided, in-person STEAM (Sci-Tech-Eng-Art-Math) Lab, students will explore the science and engineering behind glowing 3D Printed pumpkins, and answer the question — Can you Design and Fabricate a 3D Printed pumpkin (or globe)? Each hands-on, project-based learning (PBL) STEAMwhiz Lab will let students learn, design, and fabricate a glowing 3D printed pumpkin using light-emitting diode technology, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and 3D printers. They will experience the engineering design process and the fundamental science behind the technology. At the end of the lab, their 3D-printed pumpkin will be printed and ready to be picked up in a few days time!!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Dates Oct 27 & 29th

Hall-O-STEAM 2022

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Posted on August 29, 2022September 5, 2022 by Allie

August 2022 STEAMwhiz News & Events

Classes Begin 9/12/2022

STEAM Fractals 2022-2023

Using Nature as a Design Partner

Math • Coding • CAD • Physical Computing

Fall Registration OPEN Now | Classes Already Filling Up

Invest in your student’s future today! Level Up their ‘thinking & doing’ by exploring natural fractal patterns, math in nature, investigate the Fibonacci sequence, and create Coded-Art, while building their skills in (S)cience (T)ech (E)ngineering (A)rt (M)ath. Students will get hands-on with 3D printing, coding, robotics, physical computing, laser cutting, die cutter, computer-aided design & more! Create, Solve, and Innovate @ STEAMwhiz Innovation Labs!

Limited Space • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio • Intense Learning • Expert Instructors

Ages: 5.5-7 yrs -or- 8-13 yrs

thank you for an epic summer

Sci-Tech Summer Fun & Learning @ STEAMwhiz Camp

What an awesome summer of ‘thinking & doing’ we had @ our Sci-Tech Minecraft Summer Camp!

First, we must thank the parents and families of our ‘STEAM-sational’ students! Your support and dedication to your children’s future are what motivates STEAMwhiz to create learning programs that will support and grow your children into creative problem-solvers. Not to mention the time, energy, and monies invested in getting your student to lab and setting them up for success is no easy task.

However, that is just the beginning…then it’s up to the student to put in the WORK! At STEAMwhiz, yes we want the students to have fun and enjoy their lab time, but anything worth doing takes hard work, perseverance, and G.R.I.T (Guts, Resiliency, Innovation, Tenacity). And this summer our students have definitely exuded G.R.I.T. Check out some of our summer hightlights below and see how STEAMwhiz uses Minecraft in the lab to develop and support analytical & critical thinking skills to promote creative problem-solvers!

Starting September 17th | 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Sci -Tech Saturdays: Mini-MakerLab Course

Minecraft – Prototyping Design

Can you Design and Fabricate a 3D Printed articulating Minecraft character?

Join the STEAM-Team in this 4 week Mini-MakerLab Course where we will investigate and explore our world in 3-dimensions. Using the Design Process lab participants will learn an approach to breaking down a large project into smaller, manageable chunks, a.k.a “analytical thinking”.

21st Century Tools, Skills, and Learning Objectives:

3D Printers (FDM & Resin) • CAD (Computer Aided Design Software) • Analytical & Critical Thinking • Design to Fabrication

Why 3D Design & Fabrication in the Lab?

3D Printing - Changing the Way Our Students Learn

We all can agree that 3D Printing is some pretty cool tech. But you still might be asking:

Why bring 3D printing into the lab?

How can 3D Printing help my child learn problem-solving skills and develop critical thinking?

How will 3D Printing technology engage my child and help them in their future?

To help answer those questions, let’s dive into the Top 3 Reasons STEAMwhiz is using 3D Printing to empower the next generation of thinkers & doers.

REGISTER TODAY

Stay in Sync with STEAMwhiz

Follow all STEAMwhiz’s latest news, educational articles, and more here.

Check out our monthly MakerLab and Events here.

Create An Account And Never Miss A Beat With Our In-Person STEM Programs Covering Coding, 3d Printing, Laser Cutting, Robotics, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) And So Much More.

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Posted on August 29, 2022November 24, 2022 by Allie

Changing the Way Our Students Learn – 3D Printing

What is 3D Design and Fabrication?

Digital fabrication technology also referred to as 3D Printing or additive manufacturing, is a method of making a physical object from a three-dimensional model from a digital file or CAD model. It is ‘additive’ in that it doesn’t require a block of material or mold to manufacture physical objects, instead, the material is deposited, joined, or solidified under computer control, with material being added together, typically layer by layer.

Sounds high-tech doesn’t it? But believe it or not, computer-aided additive manufacturing processes have been around for more than 30 years. However, the technology, now most commonly referred to as 3D Printing, is advancing rapidly, making its way to labs, schools, and even homes, reshaping manufacturing in the 21st century.

3D design and fabrication opens up inspiring possibilities and opportunities. Users from kids to adults can immediately hold, evaluate, test, and use their ideas, reshaping the fields of art, design, architecture, science, technology, and engineering by revolutionizing how things are made.

But you still might be asking:

To help answer those questions, let’s dive into the Top 3 Reasons STEAMwhiz Uses 3D Printing as an Educational Tool.

Top 3 Reasons for 3D Printing in the Lab

1. Put the “A” in S.T.E.A.M

The arts are vital for student success!

3D Printers have emerged as powerful tools to introduce art in the lab, where students have the freedom to create, innovate, and solve. Through the use of 3D design and fabrication, our lab participants, your students, will engage themselves in the full design process from start to finish. Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, lab participants will design 3D objects using elements of art, math, and engineering and then create physical representations of that object using one of our several printers.

By designing 3D objects using CAD software, students can better understand how 3D shapes fit and work together to create 3D models based on their imagination, as well as scientific and mathematical principles. Being able to understand how 3D shapes work and fit together can also result in an improvement in spatial intelligence, an overlooked indicator of future student success, and a vital part of learning development, according to a recent study by Vanderbilt University.

2. Growth Mindset – Learn from Failure

In a traditional classroom, student success is normally measured by a passing or failing grade on a test. While there are many flaws in this approach, this approach mainly ignores the lessons that can be learned from failure. The lessons we learn from failure are just as important as the lessons we learn from success, or even more important. Failure develops resiliency, and being able to learn from our mistakes is a vital skill that we want to support in our students – not only as a character trait but also as a skill set for their future.

3D design and fabrication have been proven to be great tools for facilitating learning through failure. As students undergo the design process of analyzing, modifying, and testing their design multiple times before they are successful. If a print ends up failing, students will be able to go back to analyze and modify their design until they are successful. Even Yoda said, “The greatest teacher, failure is.”

3. Real-World Problem Solving

Giving our students dynamic experiences can instill the passion for ‘thinking & doing’ and plant seeds for the future.

Not only does the 3D printing process from design to fabrication make subject matter and technical subjects more engaging but also ignites students’ curiosity and interest in STEM fields – this is especially valuable when applied at an early age. This is why we have created a lab program specifically designed for our littlest ‘thinkers & doers’ from 5.5 to 7 years old.

One of the biggest benefits of 3D printing is its ability to facilitate real-world problem-solving in the lab. Whether it’s accelerating the innovation process so students can experience the entire product design process from A to Z or innovating actual designs to solve current real-world problems from assistive technology to 3D printed coral, to large structures such as bridges, houses, and even boats.

3D Printing has the power to change the way students learn! But make no mistake – leveraging educational technology isn’t as simple as having the latest and greatest technology in the lab – it’s about effectively integrating that technology into the curriculum in a way that engages, supports, and inspires all learners and that’s what we do here at STEAMwhiz – CREATE + INNOVATE + SOLVE!

Get Started and Jump In

Getting started is easy thanks to great free tools specifically designed for kids! We highly recommend TinkerCAD as a great entry point into to start thinking and designing in 3 dimensions. Even better you can take these creations and send them to us to 3D print for you =D

Mini-MakerLab Course: Minecraft Prototyping Design

STEAMwhiz students will Level Up their thinking & doing and build their skills in (S)cience (T)ech (E)ngineering (A)rt (M)ath. They will get hands-on with 3D printing, computer-aided design, the design process, painting techniques, stop-motion movie making, Minecraft in-game challenges, & more! Jammed packed with creative problem-solving endeavors to support and develop your NextGen thinker & doer!

Registration Open

Mini-MakerLab Course: Minecraft Prototyping Design

Registration Open