The idea is that we will have a mobile makerspace, activities and experiences in a menu of options for teachers and admin to pick and choose from. Once we are booked at a school we will drive the bus and park it in the parking lot and unload all the activities for a few days to up to a week. Once we have come and worked on some STEAM lessons with the students we will leave behind a kit of goodies to get them started on creating their own space in their school.
Where are we at in this process? I have about 10 lessons planned, the low tech consumables have been bought. We still have to buy the higher tech pieces, and come up with the leave behind kit. There is still a lot of organizing, planning, and buying to go. Learning to drive a bus is no joke! When we started this adventure of creating a mobile maker space I knew I was going to want to drive the bus. Selfishly I wanted to have access to the door handle, imagine my surprise when I found out it was just a push button to open. I was a little bummed to say the least.
Since I am the first on the team to be trained I am the Guinea pig, for instance we didn't know that the first day of training I was going to have to crawl under the bus and start naming off mechanical parts. My first day was also the night of #Bethanymakerfair; I was working till 8pm! I was at a community function, and needed to look presentable. I was wearing khakis. Note to self: wear dark colored clothing The second day of my training I got to do the air brake test, move the bus forward and back. They are powerful machines. I learned terms like choking the bus, thumper, and u-bolts & joints. I am super excited to be in control of the internal/external radio and PA system... But who wouldn't be? Note to self: closed heel/toe shoes Right now my brain is consumed with #futurebus stuff. We have a lot to organize, buy, and prep. I have a lot of tests to take to be able to drive the bus; while the bus might be out ready to roll the streets the components on our end, the logistics, are still being worked on. Thanks to Gallagher Designs, Stumptown Coffee, First Tech Credit Union, and BEF (Beaverton Education Foundation) for helping to bring this bus to life. |
Nichole CarterCurrent thoughts and ruminations on educational technology. Archives
July 2023
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