Brilliant Labs Magazine: The Innovation Within

FALL/AUTOMNE 2018

magazine

revue

5 MINUTES AVEC NATACHA VAUTOUR

ROCKET DAY WAS A BLAST

Summer Tech Camp MEMORIES

HALLOWEEN HACKING & ANIMATRONICS

CHALLENGE

MAKER: EDUCATION FORUM NYC MakerFaire Welcomes 55 Atlantic Canadian Educators

IN THIS EDITION/ DANS CETTE ÉDITION

Brilliant Labs Magazine/Revue Fall/ l'automne 2018

3 Editor's note 4 "HELLO" FROM NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR 7 5 MINUTES AVEC NATACHA VAUTOUR 9 GREATEST PD ON EARTH: 55 EDUCATORS JOIN BRILLIANT LABS AT THE MAKE: EDUCATORS FORUM IN NYC 17 RUN A MAKER FAIRE AT YOUR SCHOOL: HOW TO CHECK LIST 18 GETTING STARTED WITH A RASPBERRY PI 22 SUMMER WAS A BLAST: REACHING YOUTH IN OVER 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ATLANTIC CANADA WITH FREE SUMMER CAMPS 24 EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES 27 NBCC PROMOSCIENCE CODING CAMP 28 SOMETHING HAPPENED THIS SUMMER & IT WAS CONTAGIOUS 31 IMAGINE: A SUMMER JOB RELATED TO YOUR FIELD OF STUDY 34 UNCOVERING INNOVATION 36 REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: ROCKET DAY INSPIRED COMMUNITIES , YOUTH AND FAMILIES 38 COMMUNITY APPRECIATION 39 DIY POP BOTTLE ROCKET 40 WORKING TOGETHER: A PHOTO CELEBRATION 41 CREATING A METRONOME WITH BEN 44 HALLOWEEN INNOVATION CHALLENGE #BRILLIANTHACKOWEEN 47 ENGINEER PICKS: BEST TOOLS FOR MAKING 48 IT'S COMING...WILL YOU BE READY TO MAKE SOMETHING BRILLIANT? 49 MEET THE TEAM! WE'VE GROWN :) TIME FOR SOME INTRODUCTIONS 53 FIRST LEGO LEAGUE 55 CREDITS

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EDITOR'S NOTE

WELCOME

JEFF WILLSONÂ

It's Halloween time and youth across the region are transforming themselves into superheros, unicorns, zombies, or their favorite Fortnite characters. No matter the costume kids are imagining themselves as something different... We all do this from time to time. Often if we can see ourselves accomplishing certain future goals it may help us to achieve them when the time comes. This mental process is known as episodic future thinking and is often used by athletes and successful people in various walks of life. It refers to the capacity to imagine or simulate experiences that might occur in one's personal future. When we create learning environments that introduce youth to 21st century competencies and skills development we are asking them to see themselves as future problem solving professionals. For example, when we asked youth to try coding, designing and building their own rockets this summer we were asking them to imagine themselves as aerospace engineers.

In this issue of Brilliant Labs Magazine: The Innovation Within we take a retrospective look at the past few months to consider how our summer tech camps, special events, and professional development has helped to inspire youth, educators, and communities. We'll explore how asking people to imagine themselves as future makers may not only inspire them to reach personal goals, but how it can help inspire their communities and others to become more innovative. Brilliant Labs had the privilege this summer to work collaboratively with more than 140 community partners, and benefit greatly from more than 66 summer students who helped us deliver our free summer programming to more than 80 communities and reaching more than 13,000 youth. Through collective impact, and support from private sector and public sector to funding partners like CanCode, Canada Summer Jobs, and the provincial governments of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador. These camps challenged youth to consider themselves to be designers, engineers and architects of their own future. Rocket Day was a perfect example of episodic future thinking as we asked our summer camp participants, their families, and their communities to imagine themselves as computer scientists, scientists, mathematicians,entrepreneurs, and aerospace engineers.

We asked participants to design and launch rockets that they built themselves. This process created enthusiasm between participants and within communities as it became a celebration of innovation. Participants worked together to solve problems with rocket design and rocket launching. Each proving to themselves that they are good problem solvers and can be innovative when they have to be. This event was not only a great success this past summer but it will help us kick off a celebration beginning this spring and leading into the summer of 2019 for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight and lunar landing. Stay tuned for new aerospace innovation challenges coming in the new year!

As you read through this edition of the Brilliant Labs Magazine, you'll find information on our most recent Innovation Challenge: Halloween Hacking & Animatronics and how it lit up social media with #brillianthackoween projects. We challenged students to take regular Halloween props and transform them using code, hardware hacks and whatever they could get their hands on. The results are nothing short of brilliant and we're happy to share what these young makers created.

Seeing yourself as a maker is not always an easy task, but seeing is believing. Earlier this fall we hosted 55 educators at the New York City Maker Education Forum where we asked our delegates to imagine themselves as makers and experience first hand how other educators have transformed their classrooms, their students, and their communities through maker-centered learning practices. Join our new Brilliant Labs staff, Melissa Lee, Gary Gaudet and Carron McCabe along with Jacob Lingley as they share their Maker Faire experience in the article the Greatest PD On Earth and how they hope to uncover more makers and innovators in classrooms across Atlantic Canada.

Finally, we talk with Natacha Vautour of l'École Abbey-Landry in Memramcook, NB and discover she is a natural maker who started by doing what she loves, which is sewing. She used this skill to inspire a maker movement in her school. Today she inspires entrepreneurship and maker education at Abbe-Landry and beyond. We hope you will find inspiration and imagine yourself as a change maker in your community, classroom or school. Now, let's uncover the innovation within!

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"Hello!"

FROM NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

First there was one. Brilliant Labs came to Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in the form of a single hire. Although a team from New Brunswick had been involved in professional Written by John Barron Provincial Coordinator

Newfoundland & LabradorÂ

learning with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), our first day as an organization in NL began with one person: John Barron. We partnered with both NLESD and EECD, that first hire hit the ground running and started the relationships with partners that would carry us forward. The coming weeks would see John

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attend a news conference, engage with partners, shadow Kayoe and Jacob in New Brunswick, be interviewed on the radio and start to create new partnerships strategically. Our first school visits happened, our first approved projects from staff within the province happened, and our first work with teachers and students had begun.

And then there were two. Wylie Butler joined the team just in time to help screen and interview our summer counsellors, as well as set up our office, which would soon resemble a makerspace, order materials, plan for our summer camps and of course, support the work of teachers and students. By the end of June we were in 20 schools and had approved 28 projects in total. Once June ended, our summer camps came online in four locations across the province, engaging some 2100 youth before it was over.

We worked through the logistics of having camps physically separated by long travel times (7 hours point to point) and hope we supported our counsellors well while they were doing such fantastic work. We had a great rocket day with campers in two locations participating, and excellent coverage from local media. Our message was getting traction. August brought thirty-

"Hello! Get ready Eastern NL! I'm an elementary French Immersion teacher who has a passion for tech and making.

I once made a cardboard mailbox shelf in my classroom from Chromebook boxes and hot glue. A little glue, paint and makerambition can go a long way in helping students learn. Let's connect at Melissa@brilliantlabs.ca and get K-6 learning by making!

- Melissa Lee, NLESD Coding Itinerant five inservice and preservice teachers to the inaugural Coding for a Purpose workshop hosted by Brilliant Labs and supported by our Cancode and community partners. This workshop is being used as a springboard to start our work with schools in the new school year.

And then there were four. The summer also saw the hiring of the rest of our team, Melissa Lee in the east and Christine Elliott in the west. Hired as

"Hello! I'm working a lot in central NL, but because I have over 15 years teaching computer tech & skilled trades I'm going to bounce around to help where ever I'm needed. In case you can't tell, I love music and even play in a band called "The Overpass" so if you want try next gen multimedia ideas... let's connect and get your class goovn' 21 Century style! Wylie@brilliantlabs.ca - Wylie Butler, Program Specialist -3-5-

coding itinerants with NLESD, these two amazing educators will be working with Brilliant Labs to support our programming across the province.

And the support is needed. This year Brilliant Labs in NL will attempt to reach 203 elementary schools, separated by thousands of kilometers, to train and support teachers in maker education. On the western side of the province, Christine’s distance between schools could be 1000 km, and her duties in Labrador will require hours of plane travel. On the eastern side of the province, Melissa’s area encompasses 65% of our student population, although her travel time will be less. Wylie and I will support the central part of the province, with at least one of them on the road in any given week.

And the work goes on. September was busy getting Melissa and Christine settled in, fine tuning the relationship with NLESD, and providing our first professional learning of the new school year.

Demonstrations and presentations to teacher librarians and visits to a dozen schools have started the new year off right. Our meetings in Saint John with other BL staff focused us

on our goals, while our time at the World Maker Faire in NYC let us see all the possibilities and advantages of maker centered learning.

No challenge is without solution, and we set our goals high so that we can excel. The history of Newfoundland and Labrador is one of struggle and indomitable spirit.

We work together to solve problems and bring maker education to as many schools as possible. Stay tuned... I imagine the future will be brilliant!

Photos Submitted "Hello! I'm a teacherAllwho believes that you can empower youth and communities by doing what you love.

Wether it's a hobby or a lifetime passion, incorporating what you do best into your classroom projects can inspire students like no other exercise. For me it's cycling. I am the female director for the provincial cycling association (Bicycle NL) and have helped introduce dozens of women and girls to the sport of cycling and mountain biking. Each start at their own pace but all have uncovered the love of the sport and the feeling of empowerment when finishing a challenging course. Don't be surprised if I show up to your school ready to do a kinetic energy exercise using a mountain bike! Learning can happen anywhere and we're going to have a lot of fun uncovering it!"

- Christine Elliott, NLESD Coding Itinerant

2018-19, GOALS

REACH 203 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS EMPOWER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

"Well, I'm happy you've taken the time to meet our team. You may have noticed we all have hobbies and a passion for learning. Mine is this orchard. A retirement project. Granted, my work at Brilliant Labs has taken over much of my retirement, but I can say it's fun... so maybe this is a hobby too! Either way, we all agree that students respond best to the projects we, educators, care about. So when you're ready let's see what you love to do and how we can help you bring that hobby or passion to the classroom. Together we'll start the NL maker education journey together."

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-John Barron, Provincial Coordinator Newfoundland & Labrador

5 MINUTES AVEC NATACHA VAUTOUR École Abbey-Landry Memramcook, Nouveau-Brunswick Nous avons interviewé Natacha pour lui demander ce qui l'a inspirée à devenir enseignante et ce qu'elle a appris.

Vous êtes enseignante depuis combien d'années? Pourquoi es-tu devenu enseignante? J’entame ma 15e année d’enseignement. Je ne sais toujours pas pourquoi je suis devenue enseignante, car je n’ai pas beaucoup aimé mon séjour à l’école.

Dans votre vie, est-ce que quelqu'un vous a incité à changer d'avis, pour le mieux, à surmonter un obstacle? Je suis inspirée à changer d’idée lorsque je remarque des problèmes ou des situations qui peuvent être améliorés. Je suis toujours à la recherche d’améliorer mon

enseignement et ma vie personnelle.

J’ai appris que les obstacles font parties de la vie.

Nous devons pouvoir les surmonter seuls, car ce sont nos obstacles et non ceux des autres. Il faut comprendre que tout arrive pour une raison et que nous avons certainement quelque chose à apprendre de la situation.

Comment avez-vous été impliqué dans l'éducation des créateurs et l'entrepreneuriat?

Comment l'avez-vous incorporé dans votre classe? Je suis officiellement le mouvement maker dans ma classe depuis plus d’un an. Cependant, j’enseigne mes cours de français avec des projets personnels, des projets entrepreneuriaux et des projets créatifs depuis maintenant environ 7 ans. Les projets Maker vont facilement rejoindre ces trois types de projets.

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Mes élèves choisissent constamment des projets et je les aide à assurer qu’ils répondent au curriculum.

Nous voyons souvent des étudiants qui ne sont pas engagés à l'école. Pouvezvous penser à un projet qui a aidé et motivé les étudiants? J’en ai plusieurs, j’ai des coups de coeurs comme l’organisation d’une soirée de peinture familiale à l’école où nos élèves artistes créent un oeuvre pour ensuite l’enseigner à des familles en soirée. Les élèves ont

«Les enseignants ne devraient pas avoir peur de l’enseignement par projet créatif. D’après moi, ils peuvent commencer par un projet qui les intéresse, quelque chose qui les passionne. » - Natacha Voutour

Depuis ma première expérience d’enseignement par projet, où mes élèves en difficultés sont sortis de leur coquille et ont pris charge de leur processus d’apprentissage, je n’ai jamais fait marche arrière.»

- Natacha Voutour

le choix de participer à cette activité ou en organiser une autre. Il y a des élèves qui ont organisé un tournoi de hockey, une bataille de nerf dans le gymnase, une vente de fruits… étant donné qu’ils ont des choix, cela les engage.

Afin de motiver les élèves en fin d’année scolaire, mon projet préféré fut la bataille de robot dans le cours de français 8e année. Ce projet les garda intéressés jusqu’à la fin. En équipe, ils devaient créer le monde et la personnalité de leur robot, construire la manette et coder le robot. Individuellement, ils devaient présenter leur robot et rédiger le portrait de leur robot.

Quels conseils donneriez-vous aux enseignants qui sont intimidés par l'éducation des créateurs?

Pourquoi devraient-ils le considérer? Les enseignants ne devraient pas avoir peur de l’enseignement par projet créatif.

D’après moi, ils peuvent commencer par un projet qui les intéresse, quelque chose qui les passionne. J’aime bien cuisiner et coudre, donc mes premiers projets étaient en lien avec ces thèmes.

J’étais plus confortable. Je peux vous garantir, que les enseignants qui les essaient ne reviendront pas à leur ancienne pédagogie. Ils verront l’étincelle dans les yeux de leurs élèves. Ça devient une addiction.

Est-ce qu'un élève t'a déjà inspiré? Comment ont-ils aidé à changer vos pratiques d'enseignment?

Oui! Mes élèves m’inspirent à chaque fois que je les vois sourire ou devenir plus confiants. J’aime les voir s’entraider et réussir à aller plus loin. J’aime les revoir après quelques années et voir qu’ils sont indépendants, vaillants et responsables de leurs apprentissages. Dans ma classe, ma priorité est bâtir la confiance des élèves. Depuis ma première expérience d’enseignement par projet, où mes élèves en difficultés sont sortis de leur coquille et ont pris charge de leur processus d’apprentissage, je n’ai jamais fait marche arrière.

Un autre conseil?

Allez-y!

Commencez!

Créa- Cinq

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GREATEST GREATEST PD PD ON ON EARTH. EARTH.

FIFTY-FIVE EDUCATORS JOIN BRILLIANT LABS AT THE MAKE: EDUCATORS' FORUM IN NEW YORK CITY -14-9-

A discussion with Melissa Lee, NLESD Coding Itinerant Newfoundland & Labrador; Gary Gaudet, Program Specialist Yarmouth Nova Scotia; Carron McCabe, Program Director Prince Edward Island; and, Jacob

- Iana, Grade 11 Student

Lingley, Program Director, New Brunswick

The New York Maker Faire is the largest celebration of invention, creativity, and curiosity on the east coast with an estimated 90,000 attendees from around the world. It's incredibly inspiring and fuels imagination like no other event which is why Brilliant Labs has been supporting teachers travelling to the NYC Maker Faire over the past 4 years.

This year, 55 Atlantic Canadian educators attended the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth. Each left with a more refined vision of how Brilliant Labs can support the youth of Atlantic Canada make their projects come to life. Join us as we discuss the key moments from the Maker Faire, explore the Maker Educator Forum and answer how your students' projects can be influenced by the addition of higher-tech devices, while considering the pedagogically significance of the relationship between materials and maker.

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"One of the highlights was the focus on

teacher empowerment. It’s important for students to get the same experiences no

matter which class they are in and this often differs because teachers don’t feel as

though they can code, or make, or design" Melissa Lee, NLESD Coding Itinerant, Newfoundland & Labrador Educator's Forum, New York Maker Faire, September 2018. Photo Submitted

--Newfoundland & Labrador, Melissa Lee, NLESD Coding Itinerant What I found really uplifting is that many of the speakers from the Educator’s forum had very similar hopes and outlooks on Education (though they were from a variety of areas). This was especially noteworthy because I often find the Canadian and American educational systems hard to compare because they do differ, but the speakers really noted that we have a lot of the same aspirations for our schools, teachers and students. One of the highlights was

the focus on teacher empowerment. It’s important for students to get the same experiences no matter which class they are in and this often differs because teachers don’t feel as though they can code or make or design etc. Empowering our teachers will help bridge that gap for students. I hope to help empower teachers in my area by providing them with professional learning and support to build their skills but also by ensuring they are at the centre of the plans and projects they wish to implement in their classroom.

This will help spark the fire for other teachers and build confidence in the implementation of maker education.

World Maker Faire New York really

opened my mind to what making is and has even made me reconsider how I am a maker. For me it reinforced the importance of making in education because I saw so many people of different backgrounds making in so many wonderful ways that it really solidified the fact that making isn’t just important in learning in education, making is a part of life and it is important that we solidify those making foundations for students in school. I saw making in so many lights; cooking, growing, costumes, music, art, just for fun, for work, jewelry, to solve inequalities, to help the planet and so much more.

Top 5 Maker Faire Moments Speaking with high school students from New Brunswick’s Engineering Brightness group who collaborate to help solve real-world problems and reduce inequalities through STEM work. This is a fantastic example to share with teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador to help encourage them to use authentic learning to allow their students to problem solve and think critically through collaboration and making.

The young women in the STEM panel were intriguing. One speaker shared that it is her goal inspire through experiences and get more young girls involved. One young speaker shared that having peers to support each other is as important as having female role models. I want to share this with our K-6 teachers as they are at the forefront of ensuring our younger students feel empowered and develop confidence in STEM discipline, while learning 'making & failing are a part of the learning process'.

Abigail EdgecliffeJohnson’s talk titled “Maker Your Cake and Light It Up Too" reminded me of where some of our teachers are. Every year, Abigail would make children’s birthday cakes, but as time went on she stepped up her game by adding more elements & tech to the cakes.

Teachers are makers who bit by bit can step up their making game in the classroom just like Abigail did. The message, encourage teachers to start with a little making in the classroom and grow they become more engaged in their learning.

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Amongst all the amazing presenters and projects, one of my favourite booths was from Popular Science where children could build and test their own catapult out of rubber bands, plastic spoons, wooden dowels and cardboard box targets. It really reminded me that making does not have to be high tech, it can be very accessible to students using items from around the house, recyclables and dollar store items. It was here where the children were the most hands-on, as should be our studentcentered classrooms.

Seeing Christian Ristow’s 26-foot hydraulic hand being operated by children. Watching their excited, empowered expressions as they controlled every movement of lifting a car into the air and deciding what was going to happen to it was even better than watching the actual hand.

-- Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Gary Gaudet, Program Specialist I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Glow, a lead hardware developer at Hackster.io. Alex was very engaging and knows a lot about wearable technology. She invited me to brainstorm with her to design wearable and Adafruit gear projects for students.

I'm looking forward to bringing these projects to students in Yarmouth area and throughout Atlantic Canada. You couldn't walk through the forum or Maker Faire at large without seeing magnificent robots or aerospace inspired projects. With educators' resources from NASA and MIT's zero robotics there will be plenty to inspire and share.

Gary's

MAKER FAIRE FAVES Maker Health

NYNY.09.2018

Experiments in Space

MIT Robotics During the Educators' Forum I learned 'just starting' is a step that often gets left out of the planning process...Just starting...offers learning & iteration.

Carron McCabe, Program Director PEI

-- Prince Edward Island, Carron McCabe, Program Director I learned how to solder and created my first project at Maker Faire NY! I feel confident now that I have some exposure to soldering that it could be something that is done with teachers and students. During the educator forum, I learned that while planning a maker space is good, sometimes ‘just starting’ is a step that gets left out of the planning process. By just starting we are taking action knowing that our first attempt offers learning and iteration - a mirror image of what making itself offers.

I will take this kernel of knowledge with me as I introduce maker carts in K-6 schools in a pilot initiative.

3D Simo Gear & Map Art

Maker Health 3D printed vertebrae replacement - companies and medical groups with health centres are working with various materials and taking on challenges like sterilization after production prior to using in surgery.

Experiments in Space This is an awesome resource for educators. Not only can you inspire the next generation of engineers and astronauts, but with lesson plans like these you can hit out of this world learning!

Check it out at this link: spacestationexplorers.org

MIT Zero Robotics

Meeting Alex Glow hackster.io Robotics

Zero Robotics (ZR) is the ultimate ISS student challenge.

Annually MIT opens a programming competition where robots are SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites) inside the ISS. The competition starts on the below website, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. zerorobotics.mit.edu

3D Simo Gear & Map Art

Simco gear is for 3D printing wearables directly on skin at 48% no heat. 3dsimo.com & Map / Artwork using a laser cutter. You can find out how to make your own here. makezine.com/2016/01/06/las er-cut-topographical-map/

Carron McCabe, - 1 7 - Program Director (PEI) working on a first time soldering project. Photo submitted

Carron

McCabe's

FAB MAKER FAIRE QUOTES

MAKER EDUCATION LEADS US TO MEANINGFUL WORK AND PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES

STUDENT VOICE: THANK YOU! CONNECTING INNOVATION #CAREERDEVELOPMENT WORK SPACES THAT #PBL AND ENCOURAGE #MAKEREDUCATION! "IF GATHERINGS, YOU NEED A BOSS YOU NETWORKING, ARE UNEMPLOYABLE".

COMMUNITY, @DINTERSMITH TEAMWORK, RISK @BRILLIANT_LABS TAKING, LEADERSHIP, #MEF18 #WMFNY18 AND PLAY!

#WMFNY18 @BRILLIANT_LABS #CAREERDEVELOPMENT @EDUCATIONPEI

#WMFNY18 #MEF18 @BRILLIANT_LABS #MAKEREDUCATION

IT'S NOT THE SPACE THE TOOLS, THE TECH,

It's the people, connections & relationships that MAKE a makerspace. #makerspace #mef18 #WMFNY18 @brilliant_labs

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Jacob Lingley, World Maker Faire NY 2018: Pedagogical Reflections While reading through my colleagues “Top-5 Takeaways” from this year’s World Maker Faire in NY, it was hard for the maker educator part of me to not get giddy with pedagogical enthusiasm.

Let me explain.

This was the fourth World Maker Faire that I have had the privilege of attending. Each year the number of Atlantic Canadian teachers who attend Maker Faire seems to grow; particularly with teachers who are rediscovering the fact that making is just that - making. Without fail, each year you will see the preconceptions of first-time Maker Faire fade away into a cloud of creativity. Teachers often perceive that the projects that will be on display at Maker Faire will exclusively involve technology. It is obvious why they may perceive this to be true considering one of the highlighted projects this year included a gargantuan, car-crushing humanoid hand, that while a child could control, was a mess of wires, hydraulics and circuitry. However, the preconception that becomes as crushed as any one of those cars is the fact that being a maker simply means that you select the tools and materials that best represent your idea.

This realization happens within minutes of arriving at any Maker Faire, including our own School Maker Faires here in Atlantic Canada. Makers of all ages, skills, and passions assemble themselves to share what they have made. At any Maker Faire, there may be a student not only 3D printing their own jewelry but doing so in a way that is environmentally conscious. Or maybe even a local metalsmith who has discovered their own way to make artistically inspired, vertical wind-turbines that consider the

Jacob Lingley, Brilliant Labs Program Director (New Brunswick), presenting as a guest speaker at the MAKE: Educators' Forum. New York City. 2018

natural landscape prior to installation.

At this latest Maker Faire in New York, as you were walking by any one of the hundreds of projects, it was clear that some form of technology was present throughout the making of the project, however it was the creativity and proud passion from the maker that was the focus over any individual technological tool.

As my colleague Melissa pointed out, independent of any material or technology that a student assembles to express their ideas, making as an instructional methodology, creates an incredibly inclusive and accessible learning environment. For instance, consider Melissa’s example of her admiration for the simple catapults that were on display at Maker Faire as a classroom activity. By providing a group of students with a simple challenge: of landing the student-made projectile in the student made target with the student made simple machine, all students can immediately visualize and begin thinking about making a representation of their idea. Combine this internal motivation with a carefully curated assembly of materials and all students can get to work, designing, iterating, making their contraption.

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Digging a little deeper into my “giddy pedagogical enthusiasm” mentioned earlier, Maker Faires like the one we just attended, have significantly contributed to the way I view my practice as an educator.

Particularly, when it comes to the materials we select for our students as they construct their ideas. Again using the catapults as an example, there was a seemingly infinite table of materials that students could select to make their projectiles, machines and targets.

There were the expected elastic bands and wooden dowels, but also some more aesthetically inclined crafting materials including pom-poms, felt, and

Cardboard pinball machines. Physics has never been so much fun! Photo submitted. Ask us how

by Chris you Photo can make one. Murray -20-15-

googly-eyes just in case students wanted to embrace their love of AngryBirds. Students and adults alike couldn’t help themselves as they pursued the materials on display, carefully selecting their materials of choice; perhaps driven by competitive strategy or visual appeal.

The instructional implications of such a material selection process is as vast as the faire grounds at the New York Hall of Science that hosts the annual Maker Faire. Educators who recreate this kind of challenge in their own classroom will immediately discover how students are genuinely motivated to collaborate with their peers, assess their designs against others and consider all of the science, math, art, persuasive language and even social studies curricular outcomes are all blended together in this simple challenge. After this Maker Faire, all of this leads me to ponder two questions: (1) How will student designs be influenced with the addition of highertech devices?, and (2) Is there something pedagogically significant in the relationship between materials and maker?

The first of the two questions is relatively easy to answer as Brilliant Labs has witnessed students blending complex technology into everyday objects absent from technology since day one. For example, last year I marveled over a student bringing in his hollowed out hockey puck and asking if a Circuit Playground Express could be used to measure the acceleration of his puck as he practiced to perfect his shot on net. Forgive me as my embarrassingly limited knowledge of hockey precludes me from making even the slightest, coherent sports analogy worthy of describing this incredibly expressive student creation.

Throughout the project, I watched as this passionate hockey player continued to iterate on his design, carefully selecting materials including ball-bearings, foam and 3D printing a protective cover, until he indeed made

a responsive, illuminated, awesome hockey puck.

As I watched the catapult challenge at Maker Faire, I repeatedly thought about the hockey puck project. How would, or would they even, choose to integrate responsive and expressive computational media like sensors, LEDs, microcontrollers or even CNC milled components (let’s not forget about hours and hours of construction time rather than the quick 10 minute activity at Maker Faire) into their catapult design?

Let’s say one young maker decided to design the catapult out of the traditional elastic bands, masking tape and wooden dowels, but then decided to embed a sensor into the pom-pom projectitle to measure the impact force when it hit the target - how has this experience influenced this young maker’s learning and perception of engineering, data, technology? Furthermore, as educators, how many subject-specific teachers could join together to meaningfully assess the learning present in this activity, while never stopping the enthusiastic student from their making of their carefully crafted catapult?

Apparently the answer to my first pondered thought has led to more questions.

I must admit, the second question I presented above was rhetorical. I do believe that there is something pedagogically significant happening between the material a maker selects to make their project, and the skills and knowledge that maker expresses throughout the making process. This is an idea that I have been working on for my Master’s Thesis entitled: Mathematics, Making & Materialism. An idea that is proudly based on the work of two autors, in particular the influential work done by Seymour Papert, the MIT mathematician, educator, inventor of LOGO programming, and author of the instructional philosophy constructionism (for more information I highly recommend picking up a copy of his 1993 book: The Children’s Machine), and the theory of inclusive materialism

Wooden laser cut marble run kits. Physics in motion! Photo submitted. Ask us how you can make one.

authored by Canadian educational mathematics researchers Nathalie Sinclair and Elizabeth deFreitas.

I’ll save my initial observations for another article in a future edition of the Brilliant Labs magazine, however I have had the pleasure to observe students significantly change a project’s construction or their understanding of a concept based on all of the materials available to them. What is maybe the most inspiring is that a student’s motivation to use one material can be instantly changed upon overhearing an “a-ha” moment from another student. It is as if the collaboration between students and with all members of the makerinspired learning environment are as influential in the construction of the project as any one distinct material used in the project. I find it interesting how even the seemingly simple, yet insightful conversation with a fellow student such as “I decided to use the purple bungee cord over the blue elastic band on my catapult” can lead to expressive

changes in what another student makes and eventually what educators assess and evaluate. I do believe that this is a hallmark of a maker-centered learning culture and has the potential to influence other instructional philosophies throughout a school.

In a not overly brief summary, I hope I was able to present the pedagogical power of one single observation from Maker Faire. I’ll end this article, and remove myself from my virtually-made soapbox, by sharing an insight from one of the inspiring speakers who spoke at the Educator’s Forum on the Friday of Maker Week in New York. “We have to innovate inequality.” - Carlos Moreno. That statement continues to resonate with me as it can be applied to any area of inequality that we observe throughout our practice as educators, and an innovative solution may be found and made in the most simplest and humble of beginnings.

“We have to innovate - Carlos Moreno, Big Picture Learning – How We Address -21-inequality.”

Inequality of Opportunity.

Make: Education Forum, World Maker Faire, NYC. 2018. Photo submitted.

RUN> A MAKER FAIRE AT YOUR SCHOOL WITH THIS CHECKLIST

A school maker faire is a fun way to engage students and staff, while celebrating all the awesome making that’s happening in your school. Ok, we know it’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun and your school will look at the event and wonder why they didn’t do it sooner. Here’s a checklist to help get you started!

4> 5>

Get students Involved: this is a perfect event for all students. Consider having a group or entrepreneur class becoming your marketing committee. They can design, write and coordinate promotions. They can even consider the financial side of things (event budgeting, costs and if you should charge an entrance fee or donation).

Plus, you’ll want this group to think about the bigger picture too. Get them to consider themes, workshops needed and foot traffic (flow). Ask them what the participant exprience will be?

1> 2> 3>

Get support: contact Brilliant Labs and talk to anyone at your school who can help you get approval and volunteers. Then register & get your event kit to host an official Maker Faire at https://makerfaire.com/global/school/ Pick a date: it sounds obvious, but you’ll have to consider everything that is happening in your school and make sure you will have time to organize, get community & parents support, and give students time to MAKE!

Media Production Crew: You’ll also want students to document the overall experience. This group of brilliant media kids can take video and photos before and after the event. After they can compile and edit for the school blog, website, yearbook, or student newspaper.

Student and community makers: The best school maker faires are open to the public and have a mix student & community makers. The goal is to involve as many makers as possible and maybe even ask some of them to do workshops. This will be fun for participants and gives exhibitors a stage to share their making expertise.

Register to host an official Maker Faire and get your school's promotions kit by visiting -6- contact BrilliantLabs.ca with any questions! https://makerfaire.com/global/school/ AND -17-

GETTING STARTED WITH A RASPBERRY PI

Kelsea is an Industrial Engineering student at Dalhousie University. She enjoys math, computer science and has an entrepreneurial spirit. In the future she looks forward to working as an engineer and eventually starting her own business. In her free time, she likes to go outside and hike through the Nova Scotian wilderness and travel to other parts of the world to experience new cultures. Occasionally, she likes to play around with her Raspberry Pi and teach herself about electronics.  -18-

What is a Raspberry Pi? Written by Kelsea McAllister Summer Tech Counselor

Brilliant Labs, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Raspberry Pi is a small computer that can be modified into a number of different creative projects. If you check out: “raspberrypi.org “there are blogs, downloads, help and online forums which can help you with any of the problems you encounter with your Raspberry Pi project. I recommend that you download “The Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book” from the makers of MagPi, the official Raspberry Pi Magazine and keep it as a resource or ideas for Raspberry Pi projects. This book also contains tutorials, and other interesting info about the Raspberry Pi. One cool project called “Flappy Brain” makes a Flappy Bird game that works off brain waves! You might want to check out what other materials the projects may require.

First, I will make a list of all the essential parts a Raspberry Pi needs to function:

-Raspberry Pi (I recommend model 3 as it has Wi-Fi connectivity) -Display Monitor with DVI, VGA or HDMI connectivity * -Keyboard with USB A connectivity or Bluetooth -Mouse with USB A connectivity or Bluetooth -32 GB Micro SD card which is pre-loaded and partitioned -Laptop or desktop computer (only required for getting started) -A Micro SD adapter, could be a normal SD card adapter but I use a USB A adapter -A minimum 5V 2.5A power supply with a Micro USB connection, 5V 3A is even better ** *The Pi only has an HDMI port so if you need to use DVI or VGA you will need to have a DVI to HDMI or a VGA to HDMI adapter ** The Pi sometimes has trouble delivering power to all of its ports and must use a minimum of 5V 2.5A but if you are having trouble with the Pi not connecting to display or other components, this could potentially be why.

Source: https://www.takealot.com/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-1gb-project-board/PLID41466406

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Now to get a functional PI: The first step to getting a functioning Pi is to put the Micro SD with pre-partitioned memory into the Micro SD adapter and plug it into a computer. You will need to download “Raspbian” or “NOOBS = New out of the box software” operating system from the internet.

You can download them here https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloa ds/ There are other operating systems you can use with a Raspberry Pi, but these two are recommended for beginners.

Now, you can eject the SD card from the computer and insert it into the slot below the “display” section of the Raspberry Pi. The power supply should be connected to the micro USB slot and you will see a green and red LED light up. For best results I wait about 10 seconds before I connect the HDMI to the Pi as I was having issues with the

display saying the Pi was unsupported. If you see an initializing screen, then your Pi is well on its way to being set up!

Connect the keyboard and mouse and select the operating system you would like to use on the Pi, I chose Raspbian as it is a very common operating system and there are many resources online about it.

Next, you will want to connect the computer to the internet (you can use ethernet but the Pi3 connects to Wi-Fi, so you can also connect there.

Raspbian runs a Linux operating system which comes with many different programming software including: -BlueJ an IDE for Java -Greenfoot an IDE for Java -Mathematica -Node-RED -Python 2 -Python 3 -Scratch -Sonic Pi -Wolfram -20-26-

Linux operating systems are a little different from Windows or Mac OS. The Terminal, an icon on the taskbar that looks like a monitor, is used to modify settings on the Raspberry Pi. When I was setting up my first Pi, I had many issues resolved by changing settings in the configuration .txt file on the Pi. To access this file, type “sudo nano /boot/config.txt” exactly (minus the quotes) into the terminal. The panel that pops up will have settings that you can comment out using “#”* or press delete to remove a “#” which was commenting out lines of code, backspace does not work in this screen. You must hit “Alt” + “X” to exit this screen and then press “Y” to save changes and hit enter to save the file. If you make changes to this file, you must restart the Pi for the changes to take effect.

Source: http://www.aoakley.com/articles/2013-09-19-raspberry-pi-lego-robot-part1.php

Lines I uncommented in the config.txt file: disable_overscan=1: This will (hopefully) ensure your Pi is properly displaying on your display. Use this if you have a black border around your image and you want it to fit better. hdmi_force_hotplug=1: This will make sure that the display is being output through the HDMI port. I was having problems getting the display to show up and this helped significantly. *An issue I encountered with my keyboard was it was set up as a UK keyboard instead of a Canadian one so the # key wouldn’t work. To set the proper keyboard settings follow the path: Menu -> Preferences -> Mouse and Keyboard Settings -> Keyboard and the change the settings to Canadian (English) or Canadian (French) depending on what you prefer, just make sure the # key works.

hdmi_drive=2: This will force the Pi into HDMI mode over DVI, as an extra measure to make sure my display worked. config_hdmi_boost=4: Again, increases signal strength to HDMI port. I was having real issues with my display before changing all of this. dtparan-audio-on: This and the “hdmi_drive=2” will allow the display to play sound. Sound does not work when you first download Raspbian onto the Pi. There you have it! Now, hopefully your Pi is up and running. Next step is to create something with your Pi, I will provide details on my Photobooth project in my next installment.

"The Raspberry Pi is a low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV, and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It is a capable little device that enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages like Scratch and Python."

Read More >> www.raspberrypi.org

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SUMMER WAS A BLAST Our free summer camps visited over 80 communities throughout Atlantic Canada

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Introduction written by Brilliant Labs with article contributions by John Wong, Wylie Butler, Josiah Kennedy, and Summer Tech Counsellor Jocelyn Morrison

This summer Brilliant Labs reached more than 80 communities and hired 66 summer students as camp counsellors throughout Atlantic Canada thanks to funding partners like CanCode, Canada Summer Jobs, along with support from our provincial governments of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador. and some local municipalities. These free, fun and engaging tech camps were further supported by over 140 community partners.

Everyone from local schools, municipalities, libraries and youth organizations... they all stepped up to help Brilliant Labs bring free technology and entrepreneurship camps to more than 13,500 youth (5 -18 years old).

We at Brilliant Labs are incredibly proud of our summer camp team. They brought engaging hands-on programming and day long celebrations like Rocket Day to campers throughout the Atlantic Region.

Join us as we take a glimpse at this past summer and some of the team who helped make this summer a blast!

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Photography by Irene Lee

Empowering Communities

Libraries, gyms, schools, and community and youth centres were magically transformed into tech camps this summer across Charlotte County and Saint John, as part of Brilliant Labs’ communitybased maker education!

About 1,848 children and youth (aged 5 to 18) from all walks of life – 927 boys and 921 girls – had fun learning to become artists, designers, inventors, engineers and scientists at Summer Tech Camp.

Through hands-on, experiential activities and projects, campers played and learned with computers, digital art-making, electronics, kidfriendly coding, robotics, virtual reality (VR) and 3D printers in 5-day/week or half-day a week camps that ran four to seven weeks.

In delivering tech camp, Brilliant Labs provided over 150 hours free-of-charge to 21 host sites in Charlotte County and Saint John, in partnership with City of Saint John Playground Program, Fundy Library Region, and assorted community partners and youth-serving organizations. In Saint John, nine of the 15 sites extending from the communities of Champlain Heights to Lorneville were located in the City’s priority neighbourhoods or directly served children from there. The six sites in Charlotte County were in Saint Andrews, St. Stephen and Milltown.

The camps were led by 10 energetic, passionate and caring student Counsellors and Supervisors!

Hired through Canada Summer Jobs, the students

How 21 community locations in Saint John & Charlotte County inspired fun, innovation and learning

Summer Tech Camp in Charlotte County and Saint John, NB, Written by John Wong

Photography by Irene Lee

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received intensive, 2-day, orientation and training on educating children using today’s technologies; and working with diverse populations and at-risk youth to positive role modeling, healthy boundaries, child abuse and neglect, Duty to Report, and vicarious trauma.

To evaluate the camp’s impact, a questionnaire was filled-out by children after they completed camp (191 respondents, with 75 percent aged 5 to 10).

Campers rated their experience from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good) in the following categories:

COUNSELLORS: Did the Counsellors make you feel welcomed? – 88 percent rated 5. Utilizing a relationship-based programming approach to recruit, hire, train and manage passionate and caring students to serve as Counsellors and Supervisors, and act as positive, healthy role-models characterizes meaningful and impactful youth-focused programs.

FUN: Did you have fun? – 90 percent rated 5.

Children having fun learning to code and developing their digital skills – mastering new technologies – helps to build their resilience, confidence and empowerment. As well, developing their self-initiative, analytical, creative, critical thinking, problem-solving, team-building, collaborative, communication and leadership skills.

ANTICIPATION: Do you think you’ll try something like this at home? – 92 percent rated 5. Children continuing what they learned at camp symbolizes their level of engagement and interest. Most enjoyable activities included VR, 3D printing, Strawbees (for hands-on exploration working with design, construction, electronics and programming) and robotics.

Photography by Irene Lee -25-

ONLINE MAKER PROGRAMS:

Through community-based maker education, Brilliant Labs supports children’s social/emotional and education development by offering them opportunities to create and innovate using today’s technologies right in their neighbourhoods.

We are developing an online platform to share new maker education programs and activities with community partners, libraries and schools.

Questions? Email us, info@brilliantlabs.ca

Photography by Irene Lee -26-

NBCC PromoScience Coding Camp: Applied Research has never been so much fun Committed to fostering an early passion for innovation and technology in young people, New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) piloted an advanced coding camp for children this summer in Saint John and Charlotte County, in partnership with Brilliant Labs.

With funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) PromoScience Program, Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) and Canada Summer Jobs, NBCC delivered six coding camps, free-ofcharge.

“Innovation and applied research are key ingredients of the NBCC Advantage, where the strengths of our College meet the aspirations of learners and the needs of our Province”, said Marilyn Luscombe, President and CEO of NBCC. “We know the value of curiosity and creativity in the new economy and we’re proud to play a role in educating the next generation of innovators and thinkers.”

With a focus on serving underrepresented youth, curriculum for the camps was developed in part

by NBCC students to teach foundational concepts of coding and how to write computer programs, using micro:bit. Students taught 52 middle school-aged children in fiveday long camps. Through hands-on, project-based activities, children had fun learning how to write software for computers and creating new things.

The camp provided participants a good foundation in understanding how simple computer programs work, and how they can control devices.

“On our first day of camp, we knew we had created an outstanding program to teach children coding”

Photo submitted

said Joe Marriott, camp curriculum designer and project coordinator.

“Our students deserve a lot of credit for developing and delivering some of the exercises.”

Noah Ritcey, Tech Mentor running the community-based makerspace at the Teen Resource Centre commented that he could not be happier with the new coding camp: “When we piloted Tech Camp in Saint John last summer, we had some pretty talented kids with potential to be awesome coders… they could’ve really benefitted from a program beyond Scratch coding.

Partnering with NBCC and their students on their coding camp proved to be a great opportunity to provide an advanced coding camp for this community.”

“The coding camp was a real hit with the children in the neighbourhood! What was really cool to see was how excited and engaged the kids all were learning how to code. Often, they would come to the makerspace after their coding camp was finished for the day to continue working on their projects… their energy and eagerness to learn, using new technologies was amazing!”, said Zoe Ritchie, makerspace Tech Mentor at Nick Nicolle Community Centre.

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NBCC collaborated with Brilliant Labs to provide orientation and training to the students on how to work with under- represented youth, and help facilitate partnerships and coordinate activities. Community partners and youth-serving organizations, which hosted the camps, included Teen Resource Centre, Saint John Free Public Library and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Carleton Community Centre and Nick Nicolle Community Centre in Saint John; and Community Youth Activity Centre in Saint Andrews and Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County in St. Stephen.

“I can’t overstate how important these community partners are to our program,” said Marriott, a recently retired NBCC instructor. “The camps simply wouldn’t have happened without Brilliant Labs and NBCC being welcomed into their organizations. We delivered the content, but they handled the logistics.”

This summer’s coding camp was the first in a three-year project. It’s intended that the children will be engaged and inspired to continue developing their skills and interests in computer programming beyond the camp. As such, each participant was provided with their own micro:bit, the programs they created, and a copy of the instructions used to code their programs.

Photo submitted

SOMETHING HAPPENED

My first work day at Brilliant Labs was filled with the hiring process of our summer

THIS SUMMER

camp student counsellors. Though we didn’t have a lot of time to process what was involved in rolling out our Brilliant Labs

AND IT WAS CONTAGIOUS

Written by Wylie Butler, Brilliant Labs Program Specialist, NL

summer program we got more excited every day with its potential. Each student interview session ended with us saying to ourselves “Wow! Those kids are so full of potential.”

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Our gifted Brilliant Labs Summer Team started with a week of training. Each new piece of technology that was handed to them was met with a smile. Even at the beginning you could see the wheels turning on how they could envision bringing it to their campers. As a result of the training our students fell into a niche with the technology that each found both exciting and challenging. Well enough about our great team it’s the campers that really lit our faces.

Armed with tubs of robots, Microbits, Makey Makeys, 3D printers, Chromebooks, and laptops our team planned sessions with various age groups and demographics in mind. Through out the summer we had approximately 2100 student visits to our camps. A large majority of those were one time visits. An interesting statistic from our exit surveys was that 75 percent of the campers said they would continue with this at home. 98 percent found it to be a pleasurable experience.

Most of our groups started with Scratch.

The campers learned quickly how easy and visual block coding can be. They created stories with their own sprites, as well as catchy games that were based on motion between objects. With some age groups the Makey Makey was a hit! Our campers learned that a digital controller could be used to manipulate objects. Kids constructed items such as keyboards, guitars, and motion based games. The Microbits were also a hit. Campers made various wearables that took advantage of the built-in sensors in the Microbit.

3D design and printing was a huge success. Each camper was given the chance to design a small object in Tinkercad and then have the design printed on one of our printers. For most this was an exciting activity and the small object they brought home was a conversation piece.

Parents asked question such as “but how?”. I’ve spoken with many parents and the feedback from them was enthusiastically positive. A few are considering 3D printers as a Christmas gift!

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Photo submitted

As an educator, maker, and life long learner it was inspiring to see the students and campers engage with each other in such a positive and fun way. Learning new skills and developing new ideas flowed naturally.

Given that our contact with the campers was often limited to one session, we wanted to make the sessions fun and engaging.

Conversations with our campers often lead to comments such as “I can’t wait to show mom or dad”.

There are some things we will do slightly differently next summer that will lead to a more “maker” environment. We hope to have the afternoons sessions as a maker project time. We will provide students with the tools to exercise the skills they learned during their morning session.

Brilliant Labs Summer Camp 2018 was wonderful success! Bring on next Year!

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Photos submitted

IMAGINE: A SUMMER JOB RELATED TO YOUR FIELD OF STUDY. Written by Jocelyn Morrison, Brilliant Labs, Summer Tech CounsellorÂ

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Jocelyn Morrison is a 2nd year Neuroscience and Biochemistry student at Dalhousie University. When she isn’t in class or in a lab, she loves to volunteer for student leadership organizations, go camping, and hang out with friends. Jocelyn had a very fulfilling and very fun summer working as a Tech Counsellor with Brilliant Labs, and is grateful to have had the opportunity to share her love of science with the youth of today.

" I have been given the opportunity to gain experience in my field of study, make great friends in my colleagues, as well as work with kids and inspire them to explore STEM. It really has been a dream!"

- Jocelyn Morrison

Imagine you are a full time science student, knee-deep in homework, and very stressed about finding a fulfilling summer job to apply for. Your ideal job would be one where you can go to different locations, work with kids, and it would be related to your field of study.

This outcome was unlikely, however, and you are not about to be picky.

With your first year just about under your belt, you know how much it costs to attend university, so you’re ready to take what work you can find. You stumble across the Canada Summer Jobs page, and see Brilliant Labs near the top.

“Sounds interesting.” you think as you click on their website link.

I did not know at the time, but clicking on that link would be one of the best choices I have ever made. Being chosen at a Tech Counsellor for Brilliant Labs includes all of the components of my dream summer job. After only my first year of post-secondary, I have been given the opportunity to gain experience in my field of study, make great friends in my colleagues, as well as work with kids and inspire them to explore STEM. It really has been a dream!

Here are my top 3 take-aways from my Brilliant Labs Tech Counsellor experience:

The Experience in STEAM Perhaps the most priceless part about my position this summer is working in the STEAM field at a young age. I believe my experience gained here will make it a lot easier to get my foot in the door when I am pursuing a career in Biochemical/Neuroscience research. This summer I have put my problem-solving skills to the test and they have strengthened as a result. Whether it is fixing a bug in Scratch code, helping a child get a green screen photo with their idol, or launching a rocket into the sky, I have gotten better and better at finding a solution to any roadblock that comes up.

This is a skill that will serve me well anywhere I go in life.

Jocelyn Morrison & camper filming using green screen. Photo submitted.

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The Awesome Colleagues I have met some fantastic fellow science students through Brilliant Labs. We have grown so much as a team, and have helped one another improve at our various weaknesses with our various strong suits. We have become more well-rounded people while also becoming great friends.

Kelsea McAllister & Ben Hubbard, Camp Counsellors guiding stop animation project. Photo submitted.

Inspiring Kids to Explore STEAM The most rewarding part of my job,

watching a kid grasp a concept, or

and definitely my favourite part, is

figure out a solution to a problem. I want

giving any kid the power to explore

to inspire kids to search for answers

technology. I like challenging them

themselves. I want them to realize that

to figure things out. If they come to

technology is something they have the

me with a question, instead of telling

power to understand and

them the answer, I ask them

create themselves, rather than boxes

one, back that gets them thinking.

that create magic by themselves. As a

There is nothing better than

tech counsellor, I have been able to do

Campers across Atlantic Canada enjoyed programming robots & making friends: Photo by Irene Lee, Saint John, NB -33-

just that. As you could imagine, I could go on

for much longer outlining all the things that make being a counsellor the best summer job out there, but I won’t keep you long. What I will say is I am super grateful to have had the opportunity.

Tech counsellors getting ready for campers.

Photo submitted.

UNCOVERING INNOVATION “Evan Lowe is a St. Francis Xavier University graduate and recently started his fourth year in engineering at Dalhousie University. This past summer Evan worked as the Tech Camp Supervisor for Brilliant Labs in the Greater Moncton Area. His profound passion and experience in technology was evident in the way he worked with the kids from summer camp. When Evan is not studying or working, he can usually be found with friends or on the court with a basketball.”

"I witnessed first hand the joy and interest they received from using technology they may never have known about otherwise. Children should not have to roll the dice in the hope that they find their true passions... " -- Evan Lowe This summer I was very fortunate to One of the children I had the to have worked with Brilliant Labs pleasure to work with, came in every exposing young minds to various forms week excited to participate regardless of technology and programming. At of what activity we were doing. He times it was challenging to invoke a amazed me because at such a young true passion for technology and age he already knew so much about programming in the youth during these electricity and programming that was summer camps, but I soon learned that still foreign to the rest of the kids. each camper had something special Another child found out through one of within them... a desire to innovate. our activities how passionate he was The activities were planned so that about designing video games through all the children would have a fun time, programming. He could not hold back but for some it became apparent they his desire to program until the following had something more to share. These week, so he convinced his parents to kids would not just ask questions when buy him a computer for the sole they did not understand; rather, they purpose of creating video games. would ask to learn more because they We had gifted each of these - - Rachel Mathis, Founder/ CEO were trying to expand their knowledge children a piece of programmable out of pure interest. They were technology to take home with them.

Invigorate Leaders innovators at heart.

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Photos submitted

This allowed them the freedom to explore their new-found interests on their own time. The following week when they had returned for the camp, they had not only been playing around with what we gave them but were keen to learn more. They had endless questions and I would help them solve these problems by learning the programming side by side. This was an incredibly rewarding experience to see that I had helped spark a new passion in these youths that will last their entire lives.

I had the chance to learn a lot too.

For example, it was really entertaining for me to find new ways of programming as it is a recently discovered passion of mine as well. As a child I was not exposed to the inner workings of technology or programming and had always assumed that I had absolutely no interest in it. Luckily enough for me, by enrolling into chemical engineering I was forced to take some electrical and programming courses. These courses opened my mind to brand new possibilities and I have since then switched into computer engineering, which has allowed me to find the innovator within myself.

By working with Brilliant Labs I now see the utter importance of introducing kids to technology and programming at an early age. I witnessed first hand the joy and interest they received from using technology they may never have known about otherwise. Children should not have to roll the dice in the hope that they find their true passions like I had to, and I am extremely glad to have worked with a company that accomplishes just that.

- - Rachel Mathis, Founder/ CEO Invigorate Leaders Camp Counsellors: Josee Doucet & Evan Lowe sparking this young engineer to consider Photoplans

by Irene design withLee cardboard. Photos submitted -30-35-

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Rocket Day inspired communities, youth & families Introduction written by Josiah Kennedy, Brilliant Labs Program Specialist, with community appreciation from John Wong, Nellie Keating, Program Specialist, NS, shares a photo celebration & Jocelyn Morrison Summer Camp Tech Counsellor, NS, & gives a DIY bottle rockets introduction.

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Rocket Day photos submitted

On August 8th, Brilliant Labs launched its first ever Atlantic Canadian Rocket Day celebration. With the help of Canada Summer Jobs, CanCode, and it’s provincial, municipal & community partners, over 66 summer students were hired to support coding, robotics, tech and entrepreneurial day camps to thousands of youth (5 -18 years) across Atlantic Canada.

The camps were busy all summer building & programming robots, creating entrepreneurial products and getting ready for the upcoming Rocket Day. Their goal was to share and celebrate what they learned with their communities, while acknowledging Canada’s efforts in aerospace innovation.

“Our camp leaders in Nova Scotia worked hard for Rocket Day and even braved heavy rain to get the camper's rockets launched” said Sarah Ryan, Program Director “it was a fun learning event." Participants across the region prepared and launched model rockets and even built DIY pop-bottle rockets. Some even had additional tech like Micro:bits or Arduino hardware on-board to capture live data that was reviewed later. The day was a hit with hundreds families, friends, youth and communities coming out out to support our Brilliant Campers for their first annual Rocket Day. “Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight and lunar landing” explained Jeff Willson, Executive Director of Brilliant Labs. “We wanted to kick start the celebration to inspire students coming into the 2018-19 school year and consider how Canada and our international partners have contributed to and transformed aerospace over the past 50 years. We want to inspire future generations of aerospace engineers and astronauts. The Canadarm project is a great contribution made by Canadian engineers and it is our hope that events like Rocket Day will inspire more youth to aim for a future in aerospace advancement for generations to come. This celebration welcomes coding and engineering projects that will challenge students and their teachers to aim high and think beyond what we know today about space travel.”

Rocket Day was a Brilliant Labs event that was hosted in collaboration with community and municipal groups who helped make the day a blast!

Carl Mattatall (tech supervisor) at Cole Harbour Place sports field in Cole Harbour, NS, working with camper on Rocket Day to create a DYI pop-bottle rocket.

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COMMUNITY APPRECIATION written by John Wong

Shamrock Park, Saint John, NB. Working with friends to DIY pop-bottle rocket for launch.

Alderney Terminal Park, HRM, NS. "It's Batman!"...No, better, a future rocket engineer!

We celebrated Brilliant Labs’ coding and tech camps by launching model and pop bottle rockets at the first-ever Rocket Day in Atlantic Canada!

From Bathurst, NB to Gander, NL, and Cole Harbour, NS to Bloomfield, PE, hundreds of children across many Atlantic Canadian locations showcased their amazing work with community partners, families, and friends.

In Saint John, NB, 175 children joined Mayor Don Darling in Saint John, NB as he issued an official Rocket Day Proclamation to inspire young people to "Follow your dreams and aim high!”.

Rocket Day was an exciting event for children, Tech Counsellors, Program Directors and Specialists to come together with their communities to celebrate innovation, creativity and technology. This was the perfect event to help us prepare for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight and Moon landing in 2019! Watch Brilliantlabs.ca/innovationchallenge for upcoming innovation projects.

Thank you!

A big shout out to our community partners, libraries, schools and municipalities for supporting Rocket Day in: Bloomfield, PE, campers building model rocket for launch.

CN Sportplex, Moncton, NB, this camper built and personalized her model rocket for launch.

Shamrock Park, Saint John, NB: 1st row: Anna Kumpan, Irene Lee, Zoe Ritchie, Leah Melvin and Lily Crowe 2nd row: Hannah Gunter, Hojun Lee, Josh Gunter, Kyle Price, Samuel Jenkins, Christopher Rupert, Noah Ritcey, Joe Marriott and John Wong.

Gander, NL, Camp Tech Counsellors Brianna Bennett and Eden King.

If you're community or non-profit youth organization is interested in hosting free Brilliant Labs tech day camps that support STEAM education. Let's talk. info@brilliantlabs.ca -38-

Alderney Landing, Dartmouth, NS Bathurst, NB Bloomfield Elementary School, Bloomfield, PE CN Sportplex, Moncton, NB Cole Harbour Place, Cole Harbour, NS College of the North Atlantic, St. John’s, NL Coronation Park, Bathurst, NB Douglas Street Recreation Centre, Truro, NS Indian Point, Saint Andrews, NB Gander Public Library, Gander, NL Natoaganeg School, Eel Ground, NB Port Maitland Beach Provincial Park, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, NS Shamrock Park, Saint John, NB.

The sun was out and shining at the Alderney Landing field in Dartmouth, NS, the morning of Rocket Day as Brilliant Labs campers were setting up launch sites throughout Atlantic Canada.

The best part about Rocket Day was not only building model rockets for lunch, but designing and launching do-it-yourself (DIY) pop bottle rockets.

With a cork, bottle, cardstock and a healthy amount of tape anybody can construct an awesome and powerful bottle rocket; so powerful that we recommend you stay well away from the launch site (unless you are in charge of launching it!). Plus, this is a great way to learn about the physics of rockets and getting hands on experience designing their own.

DIY POP BOTTLE ROCKET

Our first step to build a rocket is to flip the bottle upside down.

Attach a nose cone that will make the bottle much more aerodynamic (you can make a cone by rolling construction paper).

WRITTEN BY JOCELYN MORRISON

=

Next cut four right angle triangles out of cardboard and attach them around the nozzle of the bottle to act as fins (these will also help the rocket stand upright, so make sure they can touch the ground.)

Now, your bottle should look a little bit more like a rocket!

For a full step step-by-step guide to building and launching a 2L bottle rocket visit: https://www.instructables.com/id/2-Liter-Rocket/ -39-

WORKING TOGETHER Over the summer, young participants from Truro, Nova Scotia were able to work together to learn, explore, and create with Brilliant Labs. When we work together, we can . . .

-NELLIE KEATING PROGRAM SPECIALIST, NS

AMAZE EACH OTHER!

TEACH EACH OTHER!

INSPIRE MAKEYMAKEY INNOVATION!

SOLVE BIG CHALLENGES!

OV ISC !

D S S ND WER E I O P FR LP UPER HE S

SHARE IDEAS!

ER

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LEARN NEW SKILLS!

CREATING A METRONOME with Ben!

I'm happy to introduce you to Ben Huggard, a student from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has always had an interest in technology and learning, which led to his extensive involvement in local robotics

Introduction by Sarah Ryan,

competitions in his youth. He worked for Brilliant

Program Director, NSÂ &

Labs this past summer, which fulfilled both his

written by Ben Huggard

passion for science and technology, as well as his

Brilliant Labs, Summer Tech

desire to share some of his interests with his

Counselor Halifax, NS

community. Ben is currently studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He hopes to one day develop his own medical technologies and devices to help make a positive impact on the world. Now that's a superpower for good!

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This project will require: Laptop with internet connection BBC Micro:Bit Inventor’s Kit 1x Piezo Buzzer 2x Push Buttons 6x Male - to - Female cables 2x Female - to - Male 1x 47 ohm resistor 1x LED

OBJECTIVE: In this simple project kids will create a metronome with the BBC Micro:Bit. A buzzer will beep on every beat, and an LED will flash on every fourth beat, allowing the user to keep track of time. This project is a good demonstration of how we can create and use technology to assist us in creative activities (music - making, in this case).

Time Required: 45 - 60 minutes

CREATING THE CIRCUIT (1) First we will hook up the piezo buzzer to the breadboard. We want to connect the pins on the buzzer to both ground, and to Pin 0.

(2) Then we will connect the two buttons. We will use these to increase/ decrease the tempo of the metronome.

(3) One pin on each of the buttons will go to the 3V power pin on the Micro:bit, by way of the row labelled “+”. The other pins on the buttons will go to pins 1 and 2 on the micro:bit.

(4) Finally we connect the LED. The positive end goes to pin 12 on the micro:bit, while the other goes to the resistor, and then to ground.

(5) Once you are done the circuit should look like this:

To learn more about projects like these or funding visit www.briliantlabs.ca/learn

CREATING THE CIRCUIT

(1) The code for this project is fairly simple. We start by declaring two variables. Music_ticker will help us keep track of every fourth beat, while pause_length will determine our tempo. The default tempo is 120 BPM, or a 500 ms pause.

(2) Next we use a forever loop.

(3) It will first play a tone on the buzzer, default through pin 0. It will then increment Music_ticker by one, and pause. The if/else statement at the end resets MusicTicker to 0 once it reaches four, and at the same time lights up the LED. For any other value of MusicTicker, the LED is turned off.

(4) Finally we add the ability to modify the tempo.

(5) The if statements keep the tempo within limits.

In my case, the pause had to be longer than 60 ms and shorter than 1520 (these numbers can of course be customized). When the left button was pressed, the pause was lengthened by 20 ms, and vice versa.

The metronome is now complete!

Bonus Challenge Challenge kids who are finished early to modify their circuit/code to allow for the changing of the tempo with the Cheers, Rob potentiometer, rather than with the buttons.

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HALLOWEEN

INNOVATION CHALLENGE

For our first Innovation Challenge of the school year we put a Brilliant twist on Halloween and asked A photo celebration of The Halloween Hacking & Animatronics Innovation Challenge

By Brilliant Labs

students in Atlantic Canada to hack and animate Halloween props. Their task was to take a normal prop or decoration and make it their own, by following some simple hacking and animation guidelines.

This process is similar to what mechanical engineers would use when designing an interactive exhibit at a museum or theme park. Our Twitter #BrilliantHackoween social feed has been growing with hacked halloween decorations and we'd like to share a few with you.

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#brillianthackoween

@brilliant_labs

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#brillianthackoween

@brilliant_labs

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ENGINEERÂ PICKS BEST TOOLS FOR MAKING

Hi, I'm Josh Keys. I'm an Innovation Engineer for Brilliant Labs. Not only do I get to work with great new tech everyday, I get to create new products for Brilliant labs while helping educators & youth across Atlantic Canada make cool projects. Here are a couple of my favorite project tools you may want to try:

WAZER The Wazer water jet cutter as a desktop unit that plugs into a standard 120 plug. It's super versatile and very accessible.

The best part, it can cut through almost any material: glass, steal, stone and more making any project look professional.

Discover more>>> Wazer.com

PRUSA

MAYKU FORMBOX

The Prusa printer is the Prusa i3 MK3 with the Multi Material Upgrade v2.0. It can take 5 colours at once to make incredible 3D prints!

Discover more>>> Prusa3d.com

This is a vacuum former. It is a nice clean and compact vacuum former to take your designs to the next level of production. Once you figure out a 3D print that works, you can "copy" the design for larger scale production using a variety of materials like silicone and even concrete!

Discover more>>> mayku.me

If you're working on a project or have an idea that needs a little support contact Josh@brilliantlabs.ca for help.

THE b.BOARD IS COMING...

WILL YOU BE READY?

MAKE SOMETHING BRILLIANT L a u n c h i n g D e c 2 0 1 8 -48-

MEET OUR TEAM

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Wylie But NL, Email: ler Program Spe cia Wylie@br illiantlabs.clist a

Melis NL, Esma Lee, NLE SD Co ail: Me lis d g It ine Twittesa@brillianin r: @m tlabs.carant, melee5 ,

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t Program Specialis Rachael MacKeigan, NS n) (Cape Breto lliantlabs.ca, Email: Rachael@bri achael Twitter:@RoboticR

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Carron McCabe Program Director (PEI)Email: Carron@brilliantlabs.ca, Twitter: @carronmccabe

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ctor Dire utivetlabs.ca, c e x on, E rillian Wills f@b Jeffmail: Jef E

Amanda DiPa olo, Director Email: Amandaof ,Operations @brilliantlab s.ca,

Josh Keys eer gin Innovation En a, brilliantlabs.c Email: Josh@

Jacob Lingley, Program Director, NB Email: Jacob@brilliantlabs.ca, Twitter: @jmrlingley

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Jos Ema Progriah Kenn il: Jo am S edy siah@ pec brillia ialist ntlab s.ca ,

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Lesa Scott Maker Educator Email: Lesa@brilliantlabs.ca,

En Graham Email:trepreneu Wallace Graha rship S m@b rilliantupport labs.c a,

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ATTENTION INNOVATORS! The First Lego League is looking for tomorrow’s innovators who practice imaginative thinking , problem solving, and teamwork.

Brilliant Labs is looking for you!

TEAMS WANTED GRADES 4-8 Professional Learning workshop available Dec. 7th

Friendly competition in the spring

If you teach grade 4-8 and are interested in learning something fun to inspire your students.

Let's talk! We are co-hosting a professional development session in December with Rothesay Netherwood School followed by a friendly competition in the spring of 2019 in preparation for next year's First Lego League competition! (Fall, 2019). Space is limited.

Questions? Let's connect: Info@brilliantlabs.ca on or before November 24th, 2018 -53-

WINTER/HIVER BRILLIANT LABS MAGAZINE/REVUE

Anti-Melt

MAKE SOMETHING BRILLIANT WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTORS IF YOU'RE WORKING ON A MAKER EDUCATION PROJECT OR WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AN INSPIRING STORY IN OUR WINTER ISSUE "MAKE SOMETHING BRILLIANT", CONTACT US: INFO@BRILLIANTLABS.CAÂ -54-

THANK YOU We would like to thank the students & teachers who are inspiring innovation everyday and to the contributors & staff who helped create this fall issue: The Innovation Within.

BRILLIANT LABS JEFF WILLSON JACOB LINGLEY SARAH RYAN JOHN BARRON MELISSA LEE GARY GAUDET CARRON MCCABE NELLIE KEATING WYLIE BUTLER JOSH KEYS

EDITOR EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL PHOTO STORY EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS BEN HUGGARD EVAN LOWE NATACHA VAUTOUR KELSEA MCALLISTER JOHN WONG JOCELYN MORRISON NOAH RITCHEY

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN Photography was provided by staff and contributors. Professional images were sourced at Unsplash.com and Deposit.com.

Magazine design and original art was created

by Brilliant Labs Communications, while vector art like the sample to the right can be found at www.vecteezy.com.

IRENE LEE

PHOTOGRAPHY SUMMER TECH CAMPS

COVER: Sourced and edited by Brilliant Labs.

BACK COVER: Coxheath Elementary School, NS, during the Halloween Innovation Challenge.

ABOUT US Brilliant Labs is a non-profit, hands-on experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada. We support the integration of creativity, innovation, coding, and an entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms & educational curricula.

brilliantlabslabosbrillants @brilliant_labs Brilliant Labs Channel brilliant.labs

LET'S CONNECT info@brilliantlabs.ca www.brilliantlabs.ca

Brilliant Labs -55-

FINDÂ YOURÂ

PASSION

Brilliant Labs is a non-profit, hands-on technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada. We inspire creativity, foster innovation, and help develop a socially responsible entrepreneurial spirit within Atlantic Canadian Youth and Communities. www.BrilliantLabs.ca