STEMCards

Aim

STEMCards is a system used to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to students using card paper in a fun, interactive and rewarding way! Originally inspired by F1 cars designed using Lego Digital Designer, and currently working with the founder of TechCard, STEMCards' main emphasis will be for school children to design and construct Formula 1 type cars to enthuse them into participating in F1 in Schools and Formula Student; two of the best STEM educational global education initiatives.

What is STEMCards?

STEMCards is a system used to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to students using card paper in a fun, interactive and rewarding way! Originally inspired by F1 cars designed using Lego Digital Designer, and currently working with the founder of TechCard, STEMCards' main emphasis will be for school children to design and construct Formula 1 type cars to enthuse them into participating in F1 in Schools and Formula Student; two of the best STEM educational global education initiatives. STEMCards will utilise these simple designs and technology building models to inspire STEM related careers and activities, particular in schools were disadvantaged pupils do not have access to adequate resources (adults can also get involved!).

Feedback of project so far?

This project was piloted at a school in Luton (UK) for 3 days in February 2013 to Year 5 pupils , to Year 9 pupils in June (220 pupils) and the project was such a success the school want us back again for different year groups! It was also published in GoCracker's website, one of the UK's most passionate STEM and educational promoters.Similar STEM activities conducted by Momodou were published in one of UK's largest Engineering and Technology magazines, Develop 3D (http://develop3d.com/comment/first-man-on-the-moon), in an article remembering Neill Armstrong and his zeal for engineering, design and technology. So as you can see, it's all about instilling hands-on STEM activities back to into the hearts of the young generation!

What will the cash be used for?

- Buy the kits from TechCard to roll out to primary and secondary schools in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and London from May 2013 through the summer prior to the F1 in Schools registration for the 2013/2014 academic year

- Buy the kits and send out to "Crowdfunders" according to their reward selections

Momodou and his fellow STEM colleagues would also like to collaborate with other established organisations whose CSR objectives is on education, for example Andrew Denford who is so passionate about rejuvenating D&T in schools such that his F1 in Schools scheme is such a national and global success. As a member of the Instition for Engineering and Technology and helping to shape the UK National Curriculum from 2013, we hope that your contribution will be vital in demonstrating that Design & Technology is just as important now than in the past. More importantly, resources are readily available that schools from other countries can use this scheme to also inspire their pupils! In summary, we want to use KickStarter (you guys) to promote STEMCards activities using TechCard kits.

Who is your supplier and what kits are available?

Our supplier is TechCard. Example of some of the parts needed to build an F1 model car are:

1 x TechCard Base

1 x TechCard Axle

4 x Black Spacers

4 x Cotton Reels

4 x Foam Tyres

2 x Foam Washers

1 x 30mm Pulley

1 x Elastic Band

2 x Double Sided Tape

1 x 1.5V Motor (plus wire)

1 x Black Motor Adaptor

1 x Double AA Battery Holder

2 x Standard Paper Clips

0.5 x A4 Card for Body

Example of kits needed to build a STEMCard car

Every STEMCards F1 model, and similar ones like it currently under construction, with their extensive documentation will be available for everyone so anyone can build and design their work with additional ideas from us! If we raise more than what we pledged, we hope to design and build the model F1 cars from thin sheets of balsa wood instead of card papers (currently in development).

The kits are designed to be independent and do not require any prior knowledge. Anyone can start learning about the basics of F1 design, such as suspension designs modelled using elastic bands, switches triggers built using paperclips and gear ratios; the kits are approachable on multiple levels. STEMCards will also provide excellent one-on-one support for the kits and customers, so that they can successfully complete the designs.

merci beaucoup/sukriya/arigatô/shukran/djeri djeff

Where ever you are from, and what ever language you speak, we want to thank you as STEMCards, have tons of ideas and prototypes to turn something as simple as card paper into enriching educative STEM activities! We aim to revolutionise STEM activities for this academic year in schools.

Risks and challenges 

The kits designed to teach Mechanical, Constructional and Electrical Engineering come with circuits and batteries, therefore supervision will be needed for younger pupils. However with the use of Zinc Chloride batteries risks will be minimised.When conducting the drag race with the paperclips to act as switches, care will need to be taken to ensure car travels in a straight line, although with correct assembly of the cards this will not be an issue.

Another main challenge definitely would be to embed this into the UK Design & Technology 2013 National Curriculum as a compulsory activity.One risk would be to organise and coordinate with STEM Ambassadors in different regions of the UK (and the world) to take time out and visit their local schools and communities, however this is why we all take the time out to VOLUNTEER!Scheme has been piloted at a school for 3 days and it was a success.Now we want to roll it out to all schools in the UK and the world from 2013.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 20th September 2013