Stemiverse 0028 – Nigel Cartmell – From Architecture to the Mini Makers 

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In this episode, Dr. Peter Dalmaris and Marcus Schappi talk with Nigel Cartmell.

Nigel is the founder of AKL Mini-makers. Started in 2015, AKL Mini-Makers delivers parent-led technology workshops for Primary and Intermediate school-age children. Nigel and other AKL Mini-Makers’ members teach design thinking, and maker culture skills, for prototyping – electronics, coding, digital design and 3d printing.

The weekly workshops run weekly workshops started in February 2016, are financially supported by Parents, and partnered with Auckland Council and AUT (the Auckland University of Technology). Their aim is to grow with the children (currently 11-years old) until they’re old enough to become junior tutors – a wider tutor base enabling an increase in class numbers.

In this interview, Nigel talks about his journey to start the AKL Mini-Makers’ workshops as a way to help his daughter to learn and build cool stuff, and to complement what she was learning at school.

This is Stemiverse Podcast episode 28.

Stemiverse podcast is brought to you by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.

Show Notes

• [spp-timestamp time=”00:00″] Introduction – Introducing Nigel Cartmell
• [spp-timestamp time=”02:17″] Greetings
• [spp-timestamp time=”03:02″] Nigel talks about his background and AKL Mini-Makers
• [spp-timestamp time=”07:39″] Nigel’s journey from Aviation to Architecture…
• [spp-timestamp time=”13:49″] …And from Architecture to the AKL Mini-Makers
• [spp-timestamp time=”20:47″] Nigel’s motivation for opening a Makerspace
• [spp-timestamp time=”23:53″] Nigel describes the first AKL Mini-Makers’ workshops
• [spp-timestamp time=”24:30″] How Nigel went about pitching his initiative to the school and parents
• [spp-timestamp time=”26:20″] Now that technology is more integrated into the school curriculum than it used to be, does such a club like AKL Mini-Makers still have a place?
• [spp-timestamp time=”27:30″] Examples of AKL Mini-Makers’ projects and their benefits for the students – From Sketchup, Scratch, and mBots to SparkFun gyro-stabilization projects and Arduino Robots
• [spp-timestamp time=”32:29″] How to introduce a complex project to kids
• [spp-timestamp time=”33:30″] Stumbling blocks during children’s learning process in the AKL Mini-Makers’ club
• [spp-timestamp time=”36:38″] The 4 to 1 ratio between students and mentors as an ingredient to prevent frustration and keep students in the zone
• [spp-timestamp time=”38:16″] How Nigel finds tutors for the AKL Mini-Makers.
• [spp-timestamp time=”39:22″] Nigel’s plans for world domination!
• [spp-timestamp time=”41:16″] Nigel’s advice: Is Nigel’s approach of running the AKL Mini-Makers’ group something anyone can implement in their local school?
• [spp-timestamp time=”42:45″] Nigel reflects on what he would have done differently
• [spp-timestamp time=”44:08″] How the children in the AKL Mini-Makers’ club have changed through the years
• [spp-timestamp time=”47:21″] Breaking things down into smaller parts to make sure the kids are not overwhelmed
• [spp-timestamp time=”47:31″] Nigel describes the process of writing a design brief
• [spp-timestamp time=”49:24″] Nigel’s design thinking brought from the world of architecture
• [spp-timestamp time=”50:41″] What Nigel intends to bring back to architecture when he returns to the field
• [spp-timestamp time=”53:04″] How much are the topics, introduced by Nigel to the AKL Mini-Makers, his interests, rather than what the students would like to learn?
• [spp-timestamp time=”54:05″] Influencers and book recommendations by Nigel:
  • In Architecture: the Dutch modern architecture (as well as Hertzberger), and Casa Klotz
  • in Makers Movement: Chris Anderson and his book Makers: The New Industrial Revolution,
  • in Aviation: Alexander Lippisch,
  • in Sustainability: the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
  • in Product design – Algorithms can develop a designer’s concept “The Bone Chair.”
  • The future of automated construction – 3D printed bridge in Amsterdam
• [spp-timestamp time=”57:37″] Potential Bioship or Earthship model projects for the AKL Mini-Makers
• [spp-timestamp time=”59:44″] Closing remarks and advice by Nigel: Look for the Maker clubs and get involved
• [spp-timestamp time=”01:01:38″] Nigel’s Contact Information: Email: [email protected]
• [spp-timestamp time=”01:02:14″] Learning monetization and entrepreneurship
• [spp-timestamp time=”01:02:50″] Science fairs and competitions: Encourage schools to enter