New Program Spotlight: Digital Wednesday Starts January 15

This new 5 week program will take place in our Digital Creations Lab in our makerspace and kids can learn how to design in 3D, learn about the different components that makes a computer tick, host their own internet show through podcasting or videocasting, digital photography and editing, and Minecraft map making! Every week is a new adventure!

You can register your child for all 5 Wednesdays or 1 Wednesday at a time. We have computers at our makerspace for this program if you can’t bring a laptop but these spots are limited so please register asap. You do not need to buy any special software to take this program. Spots also open for those wishing to bring a laptop.

Please register ASAP through Eventbrite to guarantee your spot.

Start date: Wednesday January 15

End date: Wednesday February 12

Length: 5 weeks

Time: 4:30-6:30 each week

Ages: 8-18

Online event registration for MakerKids Jan 2014 Digital Wednesdays (3D Design, Podcasting +more!) powered by Eventbrite

More Details:

Learning digital skills in a safe and fun environment in our Digital Creations Lab can help kids spark an interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) and help them develop technological aptitudes. Past digital learning includes: Oculus Rift demo with Minecraft, 3D design and 3D printing, teaching kids how to DJ at the NASA Space Apps Challenge ROM Event, stop motion animation and more!

Ideas for inspiration:

3D design an animal, toy, action figure, alien, monster or other creature
3D design jewellery, phone case, board games, art, rockets
learn the different components in a computer, how do they connect inside a computer unit?
creating a podcast, videocast or streaming a live show (the news, a story, a play, a commercial, a tutorial on how to make something perhaps?)
explore how to take better photos (of your favourite object, friends, nature or maybe a favourite pet?) and learn photo editing skills.

Week	Date	Topic
1	Jan. 15, 2013	Design in 3D (Dimensions) Learn the basics of how to create and manipulate shapes using Sketch-Up and other 3D Modelling software. See a demo of how a 3D model can be brought to life with our 3D Printer. Note: Due to time constraints we cannot guarantee time for printing your models.
2	Jan. 22, 2013	Become A Computer Surgeon Open up our Computer Units and find what makes a computer tick. Learn how to identify computer components and how to safely remove and install them.
3	Jan. 29, 2013	Host Your Own Internet Show Learn how to record, edit, & find hosting for Podcasts, Videocasts, Let’s Plays & Live Streaming.
4	Feb. 5, 2013	How to Take (or Fake) Good Digital Photos Bring in your point-and-shoot digital cameras or your camera phones and explore ways to take the best photos and how to tweak & edit them using free software to get the best results.
5	Feb. 12, 2013	Minecraft Map Making with MCEdit Learn how to use MCEdit to create your very own Minecraft World.

These classes are held at our makerspace at 2241 Dundas St West, Toronto. The 2 hour classes are on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm starting January 15, running for 5 weeks.

“MakerKids came on my radar after Googling the game Minecraft, a game that my kids are very passionate about. What a lucky find! Every Thursday now my twin 9 year old boys play their favourite game with other fans in a safe, fun and welcoming atmosphere. The mandate that we are all “makers” and that creativity is the beginning of any great idea is apparent in the relaxed accepting vibe of the space and in the approach of the facilitators. Makers themselves, they seem to intuitively embrace and encourage what other classes and systems work so hard to repress. My boys flourish here and look forward to it every week. They show social skills improvement and more confidence since coming to MakerKids and finding their “tribe.” Happy children make me a happy and grateful mom. Thanks MakerKids (especially Brent) for creating programs for my quirky, “outside the box thinking” boys.” – Tammy Isbell