College Students Spark Creativity in Kids

August 28,2013

Children in a Washington neighborhood are excited about building things they designed.

They are participating in a hands-on learning workshop offered by SparkTruck, created by students from Stanford University. Last year, they launched what they call an educational build-mobile and took it on a two-month trip across the country, offering workshops to nearly 3,000 children along the way.

Now, in their second year, they were joined by students from three other California colleges.

“We are trying to bring creativity and design workshops to kids all over, and bring them prototype tools and materials," said Bengi Kuroda from the Art Center College of Design, "and show them that all these things are accessible to them even if they don’t have them at school.”

The children start by brainstorming ideas. Then they build a prototype of whatever they've dreamed up.

“I made a flying cyclops, just one eye," said Owen Whitman, a workshop participant. "I had a lot of fun making new stuff and learning...how electricity works.”

“We are not perfect as we are not all designers. We are not all engineers," Kuroda said. "But we try to bring in what we feel is important as part of a curriculum, which is thinking creatively and not being afraid of making mistakes.”

Children get to control LEGO robots. They can also try out high-tech tools including a laser cutter and a 3D printer, as well as traditional shop tools.