Education

Maker Education is such a valuable role. These stories will bring you the latest information and tales of maker educators who area spreading the maker mindset. Help others learn how to make things or how to think like a maker at makerspaces, schools, universities, and local communities. The importance of maker education can not be understated. We appreciate our educators.

Electric cupcakes

Electric cupcakes

Several years ago, my then science department head and former 9th grade science teacher was retiring. Bob Webster brought me many useful and entertaining ideas. He had our whole department making wikis to share information in the early 00’s. Through him, I learned more about computer repair, web design, programming and electricity. He helped me to cultivate a positive environment encouraging kids to work with and understand concepts that many find intimidating. So what to bring to his party? Electric Cupcakes, of course!

Continue Reading Chris Connors
Double-whammy lighting/heating energy saving tank hack

Double-whammy lighting/heating energy saving tank hack

Flickr user fotogra4er replaced the fluorescent tubes lighting his aquarium with LEDs. Which, of course, make way more light and way less heat for the same amount of energy. Then he upped the ante by cooling the LED lighting bank by circulating tank-water through it, which exploits what waste heat the LEDs do generate to warm the tank-water, and in turn saves power that would otherwise go to the tank heater.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan14

Professor destroys laptop with liquid nitrogen

Physics professor Kieran Mullen of OU apparently has a hard-and-fast rule against laptops in class. To drive the point home, he staged a public execution of one by freezing it in liquid nitrogen and smashing it against the floor, where its broken remains were left as a warning to others. Of course the whole thing is staged and the laptop in question was old and worthless, but hey, any excuse to freeze stuff with LN2 is OK with me.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan22

Superconductor levitates around circular supermagnet track

High-temperature superconductor (Yttrium barium copper oxide) floating in the magnetic field of Neodymium magnets. This phenomenon is called the Meißner-Ochsenfeld-Effect and was discovered in 1933. The superconductor has to be cooled with liquid nitrogen which has a temperature of 77 K or −196 °C. If it is placed in a strong magnetic field it remains in its position. It also works if you turn the track upside down

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan6

Videos from recent Open MAKE event

Here is some video footage of kids making Bristlebots and Blinkybugs at the recent Open MAKE day at the Exploratorium. Learning Studio: videos from Open MAKE! Mark your calendars: The next Open MAKE program at the Exploratorium will be on February 27, 2010. More: Young Makers at the Exploratorium Open MAKE at the Exploratorium, this […]

Continue Reading Gareth Branwyn