People used mechanical models exten- sively for both play and scientific explora- tion from the time of the ancient Greeks
through the Renaissance. And now the trend
has returned.
The European Union established the Automata
Toy Construction project ( www.clohe-movingtoys.
eu) to explore educational uses for mechanical
toys, based on the premise that mechanical moving toys—sometimes known as “automata”—can
combine play and technology to introduce the arts,
engineering, and science to students of all ages.
The National Science Foundation’s Albert
Einstein Fellows ( science.energy.gov/wdts/ein
stein)—teachers who develop educational programs in collaboration with federal agencies—
are exploring these possibilities in the United
States as well. They are collaborating with educators and engineers at the University of Virginia
to explore how we can use digital fabrication
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technologies, such as 3D printers and computer-controlled die cutters, to create educational toys.
One advantage of using a digital design
process is that it allows teachers to easily share
and replicate mechanisms. These emerging technologies, combined with inexpensive educational computers such as Raspberry Pi (raspberrypi.
org), which is about $40, have fueled the rapid
growth of the maker movement among children
and adults who are designing and constructing
their own physical inventions. The movement’s
popularity is creating opportunities for educational innovation through the development
of inexpensive tools and related communities
whose members are often willing to volunteer
their expertise to support schools.
Want to get involved in the maker movement?
You can get started by designing, building, and
automating mechanical toys like these with your
students.
Students can learn how a crank mechanism works while building a fun toy using nothing but paper and scissors.
Add technology to the lesson by enhancing a cardstock toy with a Lego motor and motion sensor.
