The centre table was full of glue bottles, cotton balls, empty boxes and other recycled leftovers.
And their #InventAnything challenge was written in a log book in front of them: Identify the problem, brainstorm, design and build then share the solution with the class.
It wasn’t an easy assignment for the participants in the littleBits workshop, held at the Port Moody Arts Centre last Friday morning, especially when it involved electronics.
But robotics and coding instructor Dereck Dirom said he’s never underestimated kids’ imaginations.
Dirom has been involved GearBots Makerspace for a decade and has seen how the program has promoted a hands-on knowledge of science, technology, engineering, arts and math or STEAM.
In 2008, the Abbotsford secondary teacher was awarded the Mitchell Odyssey Foundation Grant to help expand his robotics principles into schools and summer camps.
Now, Dirom is passing on his knowledge to Tri-City kids after he was spotted by PMAC’s Sandra Niven last fall.
“My focus has been on bringing more diverse arts to the arts centre including environmental and science,” Niven, the volunteer and program co-ordinator, told The Tri-City News via email. “I recognized that kids love robotics and saw it as the perfect fit for us.”
This month, Dirom kicks off his GearBots Makerspace program at PMAC for kids aged nine and up.
Using the NXT Mindstorms robotics platform, children and teens are introduced to basic engineering concepts to program a robotic device. As well, they will take part in a friendly challenge to see who can complete the most missions during the course.
Asked about the safety aspect of having wires, batteries, hot glue guns and scissors around children, Dirom shrugged.
“It’s really amazing how careful kids are. We tend not to give them credit for that. If you just let them explore, their creativity wanders to places of wonderful invention.”
Dirom said Makerspace has been growing in popularity in the U.S. for a number of years and only recently caught on in Canada.
He hopes his classes will fuel interest in technology and problem-solving — and will spark an interest for girls to tinker as well.
• The GearBots Makerspace class runs on Saturdays at 10 a.m. starting Sept. 12. To register, call the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. Johns St.) at 604-931-2008 or visit pomoarts.ca.
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@jwarrenTC
