over 6 years ago by oscampo
Which problem are you trying to solve?
STEM education for blind children in developing countries
How are you going to solve the problem?
Many STEM concepts can be teached by use of simple 3D printed/laser cutted pieces.
What is the impact of your project?
This project is a proposal to attend educational needs for blind children in poor and developing countries. It's an
opportunity to know, explore, learn & open a world of new possibilities to children.
How can the project be manufactured in the OpenLab?
Simple laser cutter and 3D printer
Describe your project in detail
The project is focused on develop kits for teaching basic STEM concepts by laser cutted/3D printed pieces. The kits will
be OpenDesign and documented for fabrication and also for teaching on blind children. We have experience on teaching
practices with handicapped people (deaf-and-dumb) and also with little children
(http://ingenieria.uao.edu.co/boletin/la-universidad-autonoma-occidente-pionera-creacion-espacios-la-apropiacion-la-tecn
ologia/), and we know about education needs and difficulties to access to aids on developing countries. Also we have
experience on social work with communities and we have developed some projects on poor communities related to maker
phiosophy: http://www.cali.gov.co/informatica/publicaciones/116949/cali_lider_en_tecnologia_laser_con_el_makerlab/
Comments
information about or name of the shape when the child touches it and this will help him a lot in speed learning
Maybe for a second version, because this one is intended for poor countries and we are
thinking in use no batteries nor depend of a software.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math :)
Maybe you can give an example
of "a basic STEM concept" you have in mind to teach? With a little outline, how to design it in 3D, please.
Thanks!
Thanks for your comment.
Some examples of basic STEM concepts can teached by
Touch&Learn:
Science: parts of plants, animals, human skeleton, molecules, etc
Technology: recycling, water
treatment, waste management, etc
Engineering: mechanics,
Math: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
fractions, trigonometry, plots of functions, etc.
These and another similar concepts described above, can be illustrated
by 3D printed or laser cutted models. By example, for teach about skeleton, you can print it, for teach addition you can
cut little squares and explain how can be added to "form" a result or can be multiplied to "form" an
area, etc