Are You Kidding? (Feature

ARE YOU KIDDING?

“How do STEM Practitioners make the multitude of parts necessary for the dozens of Project-BasedLearning experiences that are to be shared with students? Wouldn’t it be great to have access to a wood shop and a machine shop and laser cutting and 3D printing capability and an NC router table and leaded/ stained glass tools and sewing machines and a Bridgeport mill and...and...?"

“Come on! That would take access to an entire Makerspace - and I suppose you want to bring the students to this imaginary shop so that they get all the learning experiences such design and fabrication involves.”

“Yes, in fact we need CAD and CAM capability as well, in hopes of capitalizing on the design side of such exposure.”

“And just what do you mean by “STEM Practitioners”?”

“You know, engineers and other STEM-experienced volunteers, working with the kids, instead of working in their own basement and then bringing the resulting hardware to the kids in a classroom. Project- Based-Learning should involve student participation at every level!”

“OK, who wouldn’t get excited about such a program? Where are you going to find such a multifaceted workshop?”

“It turns out that the Rochester Makerspace, located in the old Hickok Belt Building on St. Paul at Scrantom Street, is

“That sounds really good. You might also want to get the teachers into the Makerspace as well.”

“You bet, Teacher empowerment is at the top of the list!”

“Should we be worried about the impact of the Pandemic on any such support for STEM Learning?”

“They are requiring masks and social distancing and online reservations, and it turns out that the Makerspace has enough room to make the use of every other work-bench a requirement. David Duckles, Rochester Makerspace President (President@RocMakers.org), and fellow Maker Courtney Reich P.E., President of Eighty Four Engineering, conducted a two hour tour for Jon Kriegel and Lee Loomis at the Rochester Maker Space.”

“How do I sign up?”

“Jon Kriegel is the RES Volunteer Coordinator and RES Past President, and you can reach him on his cell at: 585-281-5216. Lee Loomis is the RES Tutoring Team Coordinator and a RES Past President and can be reached at 585-783-3079. Given your interest in STEM, maybe we should both join!” q

Below is a map showing where Scrantom Street and the Rochester Maker Space is located.