Workshop Descriptions
Internet of Things
This workshop incorporates basic PC components, programming, and use cases. This fundamental workshop is a stepping-stone and can be tied to other workshops such as virtual and augmented reality, and drones. We can offer a Junior (10-13-year-old) course with more basic programming tasks. As part of the course, Senior Digital Pioneers will build their own DIY prototyping kit, a completely self-contained prototyping system that can be packed up in a matter of seconds. This kit will provide a platform for Digital Pioneers to work while at the workshop and after.
Drones
We offer this course for both the Junior and Senior Digital Pioneers workshops. The Junior Digital Pioneers will use pre-built micro-drones with programmable flight controllers. During the workshop, Digital Pioneers will learn about safety, and basic flight characteristics, then learn to program them using Blockly, a drag-and-drop programming interface for Python. Senior Digital Pioneers will use micro drones that require some assembly but focus more on piloting with a smartphone controller and through programming. Because these drones can accept additional sensors (i.e. cameras) Senior Digital Pioneers will learn about design considerations for drones, and use cases and be introduced to artificial intelligence and/or data analytics.
3D Printing
This workshop focuses on additive manufacturing by learning about 3D printers and how they work. This workshop is available for both Junior and Senior Digital Pioneers. Junior Digital Pioneers will use a modified kit with some parts prebuilt to make the printer build more age appropriate. Junior Digital Pioneers will then be introduced to basic 3D printing concepts, maintenance techniques for their 3D printers, and how to identify good printable models. Senior Digital Pioneers will build the full 3D printer from scratch and then move on to basic 3D printing concepts, maintenance techniques for their 3D printers, and basic 3D modeling and slicing. Senior Digital Pioneers will also design their own models, and print them.