programming ideas
TRANSCRIPT
Programming Ideas in MakerspacesBRIAN PICHMAN | EVOLVE PROJECT
Agenda
Ways to Organize Your Space Marketing Tips and Tricks Planning for the Future Ideas for Your Space
Organizing Your MakerspaceSo many things…so little time.
http://renovatedlearning.com/2016/10/10/how-to-create-makerspace-organization-that-actually-works/
Highlights
Ask the staff and patrons for input on how the space should be organized Put similar technology together? Should it be organized by Brand, different kits for different boxes, or
organized chaos? Label the sets, kits, etc. so its clearly visible. Have a “in-progress” space
Dedicate an area so users know who might be working on what.
Organization: Storage?
VS
Storage
When storing your items, the goal is to make it visible. Clear Bins Avoid Cabinets without windows
Accessibility You don’t want to hinder someone’s creativity, so allow for things to be easily
obtainable. Does it have a home?
If your patrons continue to move things out of the way to get to the same piece of makertech each day; chances are you need to do some new storage and organization so the most wanted the is most readily available.
Let patrons define their space.
Overcoming Space Restrictions
Maker “Table” Nominate a table and have a different
activity out each week. Could be a project that each patron
adds to, or an individual project that gets reset at each completion
Rotating Collection Share some “Maker-Kits” with fellow
libraries/branches and spread out your activities across the area.
Overcoming Security Concerns
Is it Really Needed Based on the studies reported, there
is a loss of .15% to .5% per year; or overall loss rates of 4–8% when an inventory, or inventory sample, is conducted periodically.
Why do books go missing? Some are simply miss shelved and will eventually resurface; others are lost by library users, with the lost item fees paid. Sadly, many are stolen, though electronic detection systems do minimize that risk
http://www.ala.org/tools/loss-rate
Organization: Instructions?
Instructions: People read. Follow. Complete.
No Instructions: People Fail. Try Again. People Innovate Something New
Help People Fail. Ask for help. Succeed. People Innovative Something New
Organization: Rules?
Rules can offer a sense of Security Peace Order
Rules about Rules: Avoid the use of “No….” Choose colors carefully Use Positive Language Don’t write and post a rule about that
one incident that occurred
Poop is OK
Hopscotch (an app that teaches you how to program) talks about how kids were building apps with the “poop emoji”.
It is OK. At the end of the day, kids were programming. They found it funny, so had fun programming and expressed their sense of humor.
https://blog.gethopscotch.com/poop-is-okay-4b847bab1825
Marketing Your SpaceIt’s a lot easier if you make someone else do it for you.
Tips n Tricks
Facebook Engage
Share the “fun” Offer Challenges Lots of Commenting / Liking
Twitter Influence
Promote Milestones Major Innovations
Ask for people to share
Self Promotions
Recording Studio Add the outputs (videos, music, etc.) to
the collection Host movie nights, share the works.
Programming Robots: Do a “robot night” Game: Do a “game night”
Engineering Circuits: Build Displays / Wall Displays Robots: Build Displays / Demo Areas
Art or Craft Orientated Display Allow things to be ”Borrowed”
Local Businesses
Advertise What You Can Do For Businesses: 3D Print Prototypes/Fixes Space to make marketing materials Space to tinker Space to “Hang Out” Having something to “tinker” with
while brainstorming can actually help innovate.
Local Business Experts
Turn local businesses into educators for your space. Train staff/patrons on coding,
engineering, electricity, robotics, photography, cinematography, and more!
Get them to promote to the program If they have a strong customer base,
they will share what they are doing with their customers…and in turn, advertise your library.
Open up your “phonebook” and look at what’s local to your area.
Planning Your Makerspace
Planning for Staff
Staff Involvement Promoters and Challengers
Encouragement of new ideas is key Staff Training
Teaching non-technical people the technical.
Teaching the technical people empathy.
Planning for Future
Work with school curriculum Find out what they are trying to focus
on. Many of the tech gadget companies
build curriculum for free that matches what schools accomplish through all the core competencies.
Start small Don’t have to buy multiples of a
single item. Get one as a “demo” and see where it goes.
Survey your users. What works What didn’t
Remove the bad! Budget appropriately
Or fundraise appropriately.
Survey Tips
Short and Sweet (less than five minutes) Open Ended vs Closed Ended Questions
Open Ended Questions usually involve “feelings” and less focus on the facts. What did you enjoy about the program?
Close Ended Questions encourage a clear and direct answer. Did you enjoy the library program?
Evaluating Loyalty and Satisfaction The average satisfied person will only tell 1 or 2 people how “happy” they are The average unsatisfied person will tell 3-6 people how ”unhappy” they are. Loyal users will return and encourage others to come.
NPS Scoring
NPS
Promoters
Passives
Detractors
Calculating NPS
Counts # Percentage
Promoters 10 10/13
77%
Detractors 2 2/13 15%Passives 1
Total Surveys:
13 NPS 77-15 = 62
62
Take percentage of customers who are Promoters and subtract the percentage who are Detractors.
https://delighted.com/nps-calculator
Counts # Percentage
Promoters 70 70/100
70%
Detractors 10 10/100
10%
Passives 20
Total Surveys:
100 NPS 70-10=60
60
Top Brands – NPS is a Comparable Metric
You can compare your score with other industries; the scoring mechanism is standard across.
NPS is also an improvement plan. You are now able to track and measure success (or failure) in a repeatable fashion.
How to Survey and Ask Your Crowd
Engage your respondents through effective surveys to drive the desired results to your business. Make informed decisions Identify weaknesses and highlight new opportunities
Overall, response rate to surveys is poor. You will need to focus your efforts on determining the best way and level of frequency to send out surveys. IE Too many surveys = nuisance.
Survey process is in constant refinement.
Survey Types
Web/Email Telephone Paper In Person
Let people know ahead of time a survey is coming. This will result in higher response rates.
Survey Tips: Be Unique
No one likes the mass generic emails. Customize the invite Personal Greeting Branding Effective and Inviting Subject
Line
Programming IdeasOther than Open Play
Robotics and Programming Activity Based Ideas
Programming Ideas for Coding/Robotics
Tactile Programming (programming without a computer) Mazes Get from Point A to Point B and avoid Obstacles 1, 2, and 3.
Coding on A Computer Goal Orientated
Make Character do XYZ Design Orientated
Build a story and program to that story. Coding a Robot / Built Robot
Obstacle Courses Races Battle Bots
Sphero Ball MSRP: $130Guide Through Library (Follow The Ball)Play TagPainting ActivitiesHave the ball dance to musicBuild obstacle courses
Dash and DotMSRP: $230Control Dash & Dot to move, light up, make sounds, and interact with each other. This dynamic duo can do anything you set your mind to.
Lego WeDo’s MSRP $130Lego Robotic CompetitionGreat opportunity to share creations.
Lego Mindstorm MSRP $300Lego Robotic CompetitionBit more advance – try to automate functions
VEX RoboticsVEX Robotic Competition
OZOBOTDraw mazes for the robots to race throughOffer challenges (how many tricks can you complete in x amount of time)Story telling
Meeper BotA Lego Compatibile moveable robot. BattleBots
FinchMSRP: $99Build an obstacle course for the Finch to travel through.
Cubelets MSRP: $160Biggest robot vs smallest robot
MOSSFun robots that you can build and then remotely control.
WINKMSRP: $50Fun activities to program a robot using ArduinoChallenge Based Learning
Little Robot FriendsWireless connect and interactTeach robot emotions
Hummingbird…MSRP: $200Hummingbird is designed to enable engineering and robotics activities for ages 13 and up (10 with adult supervision) that involve the making of robots, kinetic sculptures, and animatronics built out of a combination of kit parts and crafting materials.
CubettoProgram without having to use a computer!Story telling Getting from Point A to Point B
BeeBot / BlueBotProgram the robot through the directional arrow keys on top of robot OR use the tactile reader (for the BlueBot)Build sequences to have the robot move, get from Point A to B, navigate mazes, etc.
Teach Kids to Program
HopscotchProgramming made easy No typing. No syntax errors. Just drag and drop blocks. Hopscotch is an intuitive, friendly programming interface designed for everyone.
Circuits and EngineeringActivity Based Ideas
Programming Ideas for Circuits/Engineering
Simple Circuits Challenge Based: Process Driven (turning on a light switch) Story Based: Tell a story with interaction Maps: Create a map of the town and light it up.
Complex Circuits Design Challenges (accomplish this scenario) Build “art” as an output.
Circuits/Programming (Arduinos) Transition from “Lights and sounds” to “movement” to “interactive”
littleBits… MSRP: $100-200littleBits is an open source library of electronic modules that snap together with tiny magnets for prototyping, learning, and fun.15% off for libraries
LIGHTUPMSRP: $50Learn about Circuits using an augmented layer with an app!You can also program the circuits through the app.Self paced learning and activities
Makey-MakeyMSRP: $49.95Design games and use Makey Makey as the controller.
3D Printing and PrototypingActivity Based Ideas
Programming Ideas for 3D Printing
Basic Group: Build a design (or edit one) and see what occurs.
Advance Build a Drone, 3D Printer, Robot
Solving Issues Community Project to “print” models of buildings in town Printing prosthetics
3 DoodlerMSRP: $100 Draw or complete designsHave the completed works on display
Virtual/Augmented RealityActivity Based Ideas
Programming Ideas for Virtual/Augmented Reality
At its core, its about “transporting” to another place You can re-build a lost city, relive a recent moment (recorded with a 360
Degree Camera) Moving in a direction of Virtual/Augmented reality where interactions
are taking place on a new “layer” of reality.
Key Objectives (Recap)
You want to be a fun environment. People and space are key
You don’t have to have structure within your environment. Open play is great!
Failure is OK Not all ideas work. Not all gadgets are awesome.
Pulling it all together
Start Up Weekend
http://startupweekend.org/ “No Talk, All Action.
Launch a startup in 54 hours
Code Camp / Hackathon
Bring people together to: Code Hack Play
Movies, Art, Music, and More
Let patrons publish their works in the library. Set up “Etsy stores” (fundraiser?) Let people check out patron
developed arts Host a:
Battle of the Bands Film Festival Art Gallery
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Safe To Fail Environment
Gateways To New Ideas
Provide New Tools and Resources
The Next Big Entrepreneurial Startup
• In school, your younger patrons are not given opportunities to learn by failure or experimentation
• You can spark interest into fields such as engineering, programming, business development…and more
• Libraries are about providing access. These tools are not always easily accessible for our patrons.
• What if your library helped launch the next big super star in the competitive tech community?
Outcomes:
Places to Watch for Ideas
Crowdfunding Websites Kickstarter/Indiegogo
Consumer Electronic Show Living In Digital Times
http://livingindigitaltimes.com/ Social Media
Be active (please). Community Start-Up Hubs
