Niten Memorial School (NIMS) wants to launch an initiative to create a dedicated Making space for robotics. Despite having facilities like a bakery lab, Music room, Art room and carpentry space, along with numerous clubs, the school sees the need for a centralized robotics hub.

Ohm Basnet, the Vice Principal and a leader of this initiative, states that there's been a noticeable lack of an all-encompassing area specifically for making activities. He discloses that the school had acquired almost 50 Arduino kits with the goal of initiating robotics projects. However, due to the absence of a dedicated area and a solid implementation plan, these kits either disappeared or were given away, leaving the potential robotics program at a standstill.

Determined to correct this, the school is committed to creating a dynamic, inclusive space to foster innovation and exploration in robotics. Furthermore, NIMS plans to make this space accessible not only for its own use but also for neighboring schools. They intend to invite these schools, share resources, and host sessions/events on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Teachers that are involved in this project

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Visit 1 [Space Observation and Theme finalization]

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To figure out the theme, we invited students from grade 9 and engaged in casual conversations. We asked what they liked most about the school and how they spent their free time. Many students expressed their enjoyment of arts, music, and crafting.

We proposed the idea of a dedicated space where they could bring their ideas to life. We asked if they would be interested in such a space and where within the school premises they would suggest it be located. The overwhelming theme they wanted was Robotics.

The students also mentioned that the top of the building was largely unused, suggesting that it would be an ideal location for this creative space. When asked about the desired materials for the space, the answers were quite unique. In addition to robotics materials, they wanted elements that invited other interests as well, such as a garden or flowers. They believed this would create a balance of robotics and nature in the space.

Upon inspection, we found that the available space at NIMS was 90 feet by 90 feet, making it one of the most spacious places among our other crafting spaces.

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We discovered that Om Sir has been crafting these intriguing table and whiteboard combos in the school's carpentry lab for students. This combination can be used as a table, where we observed students playing chess and completing their classwork. If flipped, it functions as a whiteboard.

Upcoming task:

3D Design of the Area: First, we need to measure the area and create its 3D model. This will guide us in making the necessary purchases for the space.

Visit 2 [Model Sharing and Next Steps to Get Started]

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We developed an L-shaped model for the 3D space. The reason for this is that an L-shaped space is closer to both exits in case of an emergency. We discovered that the school has an unused 3D printer; therefore, we plan to place it in our maker space.