A Year of Making Part 1 #MakerEd #Make52

Back in January, I decided to challenge myself to make something new every week. I didn't focus on what I was going to do each week, I just let the week happen and saw what I had created at the end of the week. I've been sharing all of my creations on Instagram with the tag #Make52.

As I look back at the things I made each week, I saw a group of projects that came from a natural passion to Make something. I never felt pressured to build something or create something for the world to see, I just made what I wanted when I wanted. I have a space in my basement that is my workroom and it is filled with various tools and I just go in and take a look at what is there and an idea strikes me. From there, I get started and I hopefully Make something that works.

This is why creating Makerspaces in schools or classrooms is so important for students. There needs to be a place for kids to go and be inspired. A place where students can just get started Making. As educators, we need to create these spaces and to implement the mentality. The Making Mentality is key to inspiring students. The Mentality is what will drive students to build and create. I am inspired by the create Makers I see daily on Twitter and Instagram. As educators, we need to be that inspiration for our students with the things we Make and share. Here are 26 things I've made this past year. I look forward to the next 26 creations.

A @raspberrypifoundation Zero running RetroPie. The USB audio is needed for sound. #Make52 #ImAMaker #MakerEd Week 1

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 1, 2017 at 1:55pm PST

Aladdin under a tree by some water. #Make52 Week 2.

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 8, 2017 at 1:43pm PST

Nerdy Chili! Chorizo and beef with 5 Habanero and Jalapeño peppers. #NomNom #Make52 #Week3

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 14, 2017 at 1:53pm PST

Designed a lens add-on for the gif Camera I made last weekend. I can now add lenses as needed. I used @tinkercad for all of my designs and my @dremeledu 3D40 for prototypes and final prints. #Make52 Week 4! #Ambassador. #Dremel #MakerEd

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 22, 2017 at 8:55am PST

Wanted something nice to eat, so I made meatballs. #Make52 Week 5

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 29, 2017 at 4:11pm PST

#Make52 Week 6 and 7 #NFC Computer Unlocker Instructions from @adafruit Designed the box using my @dremeledu 3D40 #IdeaBuilder #Ambassador Last photo are my failed designs.

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Feb 12, 2017 at 3:34pm PST

#Make52 Week 8 Made some pasta with Italian Sausage and bruschetta on the side. #NomNom

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Feb 17, 2017 at 12:38pm PST

Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Beef meatballs this time. #Make52 Week 9

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Feb 26, 2017 at 2:01pm PST

The @raspberrypifoundation GIF Cam is connected through VNC on the iPad! #Make52 Week 10

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Feb 26, 2017 at 3:52pm PST

The Pi Zero W in its case. This will make for a fun and easy project moving forward. I might use it to watch my pond remotely. #PiParty @raspberrypifoundation #Make52 Week 11

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Mar 4, 2017 at 8:41am PST

My next project for #Make52 Week 12. This will be so much fun @pimoroni!

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Mar 14, 2017 at 4:47am PDT

#make52 Week 13 #NomNom

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Mar 19, 2017 at 7:33am PDT

#Make52 Week 14 Lunchbox Pi 7in Pi Touchscreen LiPo Battery Collapsible Bluetooth Keyboard (ordered)

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Mar 26, 2017 at 8:18am PDT

Making my first attempt at a fidget spinner using my @dremeledu 3D40. Glow in the dark filament. #Make52 Week 15

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Mar 31, 2017 at 4:02pm PDT

The tape was not a long term solution to my camera issues, so I designed a little add-on to the screen. I also printed a small hinge and threw together two flat 6in rectangles to act as a support to keep the lid from closing. I think the Lunchbox Pi is complete. #MakerEd #Make52 Week 16

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Apr 5, 2017 at 6:30am PDT

Better set up for the @raspberrypifoundation Zero W and my @dremeledu 3D40. #Ambassador #MakerEd #Make52 Week17

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Apr 15, 2017 at 6:53am PDT

Broom made and goal posts painted. The Grosse Pointe Quidditch Club is happening soon! #Make52 Week 18

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Apr 22, 2017 at 2:19pm PDT

All set up. I'm going to make a nice frame to mount around the screen. Right now it has a quickly cut piece of construction paper. I have a hinged lid that is not sitting like I want. Going to add lights on the inside eventually. Something sparkly. Handles on the side will be a must too. #MakerEd #Make52 Week 19

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Apr 29, 2017 at 10:02am PDT

Created a green sparkly background and resized a wood frame. Neat little addition to the photo booth. #Make52 Week 20

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on May 7, 2017 at 1:50pm PDT

Handles! I just need to fill the inside with wires and funky lighting and I think I'll be done. #MakerEd #Make52 Week 21

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on May 13, 2017 at 4:34am PDT

@raspberrypifoundation powered Google Assistant is up and running! Destroy a project on Sunday and build a new one on Tuesday. #Make52 Week 22

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on May 16, 2017 at 6:44pm PDT

I added a shutdown button behind the handle of the Lunchbox. One click and it will shutdown the Pi. Just a simple button code to GPIO 16. I will add the same code to the RetroPie rc.local and it should shutdown the same. #MakerEd #Make52 Week 23

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on May 21, 2017 at 5:50pm PDT

Having fun with the @littlebits Code Kit in Programming Club! #Make52 Week 24

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jun 1, 2017 at 3:31pm PDT

Playing with the PaPiRus Zero and created a name tag for ISTE. #Make52 Week25 #MakerEd

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jun 10, 2017 at 2:58pm PDT

Diving into Minecraft and did some building. #MakerEd #Make52 Week26 cc @meenoorami

A post shared by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jun 18, 2017 at 7:34pm PDT

Solving Everyday Problems #MakerEd #Make52

I have often been asked about the "need" for 3D printers in school. Most people think that it would just be better to just order what you need instead of trying to make it. That is where I disagree.

I like to challenge my students with projects that force them to consider everyday problems. In my technology class last year, my favorite assignment was asking students to identify an issue in their life and design a solution. This project allowed for students to work on something meaningful to them and to create a viable solution. It gives them the drive to really tackle the problem.

Here is my example:

Swinging Baby-Gate Problem

Here is a baby gate door we installed on the second floor to keep my little guy from going down the stairs. It also keeps the two little dogs from going up and getting stuck behind the gate trying to get back down. It has been a minor annoyance, but one that I wanted to address. 

I could have went out and purchased a door stop, but I thought it would be the perfect project for me to design something and print it using my Dremel 3D40.

Took my measurements and started designing on Tinkercad.

    

I spent some time getting the measurements just right and tweaking it over and over again as I learned to become more proficient using the program. It was a decent amount of work to get the angle just right on the triangle. My high school Geometry teacher would be proud.  Once I got the shape just right, I wanted to personalize it.

 I thought adding my initials to the doorstop would be a simple way to personalize it. I used the letter features and was able to use them to carve out my initials on the doorstop. Once I had it in place, I was ready to print.

It was not good. Not long enough and just didn't look like right. So, back to the drawing board.

Thinner and longer was the key. A couple of measurement adjustments and I was back in business. 

After a short print of about 35 minutes, the doorstop was ready for action.

I added a little tack to the bottom of the doorstop to keep it in place and place on the wall when not in use. This was a fun project that would be perfect for the classroom or Makerspace.

Step 1: Ask students to identify a problem that could be solved with the proper design.

Step 2: Have students work on the design.

Step 3: Print a prototype.

Step 4: Solve the problem.

I can't wait to see what you and your students can come up with to solve your problems.

#Make52 Challenge

Happy New Year!

I'm always looking for something to challenge me in the new year. During the first week of my break, I've had a chance to tinker again and it is such a fun experience coming back to things after being buried in work. I wanted to challenge myself to try and make something once a week. What I will make will really be up to what I'm feeling like that week. Some of my projects might just be hacks or upgrades of older projects, or they might be something brand new. They might also have nothing to do with technology at all. I might take some time to color and make things pretty. No matter what it is and how it ends up, I will share it on my blog, Instagram, or Twitter. The more complex the project, the more likely I will provide a detailed reflection here.

I would love to see others join me in this fun adventure and #Make52 in 2017. Making can be whatever you want it to be, so have fun with it. Making is the simplest doodle and the most complex sculpture. I want the world to see that Making is all around us and we are all Makers.

Write a post or add the tag #Make52 to a tweet or Instagram post so we can all share in the Maker fun this year. Hugs and High Fives!

Week 1: PiGRRL Zero

I attempted making this some time ago, but had some serious problems with the USB connection to the micro USB. It would cause the entire system to short. I spent some time today taking it apart and fixing the wiring. Once I had that squared away, I printed a new back to the case and closed everything up. I now have sound for my NerdyPi 0.

A photo posted by Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) on Jan 1, 2017 at 1:55pm PST