Crate & Barrel Grant: Creativity Unleashed with LittleBits in the Library Makerspace
- School Year: 2016-2017
- Applicants: Denise deMello, Lead Teacher
- School: King Philip Middle School
- Subjects: Math, Science, Technology, Other ~ Library Media
The Little Bits project funds the purchase of STEM ( Science Technology Engineering Math ) learning toolkits, called Little Bits at King Philip Middle School. These are small electronic building blocks that look like a lego block but with one big difference - each has an electronic piece inside that can be snapped together to create unlimited circuits. For a demonstration of what Little Bits are, view http://littlebits.cc/education. The Little Bits kit will be housed in the Library for students to use before school during learning labs within a new space called, “The Maker Space”. Students will be able to explore , create, and design an unlimited array of devices by using the simple electronic building blocks both within the Library Maker-Space and within their Math, Science and Tech Ed classrooms. By being able to tinker, fail, and improve their designs, students will be engaged in powerful hands-on learning in STEM and gain 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem - solving, and collaboration.