SteamHead
Formation2014
Location
  • China
Origin
Shenzhen, China
WebsiteSteamHead makerspace
SteamHead's public work tables in Shenzhen, China.

SteamHead is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the presence of design within education.[1] Claiming inspiration from the Maker movement and S.T.E.A.M. education, SteamHead initiatives aim to help communities increase their capacity to "make". SteamHead activities are often supported by sponsors such as the British Council,[2] local charities, and schools. The organization supports local events such as MakeFashion Edu[3] and School Maker Faires.

Founded in 2014 as "the Make Club"[4] within an apartment, the organization now operates from offices in the United States and a makerspace in Shenzhen, China. Now situated in a public space, SteamHead facilitates meetings for the Shenzhen Maker Ed community.

Description

Steam Head offers free space for the education community[5] to exchange information, collaborate, and share. Cross-sections of teachers, students, parents, and educational industry professionals meet hackers, artists, DIY enthusiasts, and educational innovators.[6]

MakeFashion Edu students preparing to walk the STEAM Runway

Steam Head's main room contains public work tables, and is suited for groups of about a dozen people. The back of a space contains a 3D printer room, a media recording room, a tinker's kitchen, storage spaces, an outdoor balcony, and a resident room.

The space is equipped with equipment and materials suited to primary school classrooms including about a dozen sets of simple craft tools (scissors, saws, screwdrivers, measuring tapes, etc.), an electronics workbench, a screen printing station, power saws drills cutters, a projector, and printers. Members also have access to additional equipment including 3D printers and a large scale drawing machine.

The core team (volunteers) meets monthly to discuss matters relevant to the space, like renovation projects and equipment purchases. There are multiple special interest groups, which meet more regularly and often spontaneously. The space is open every day, usually for 24 hours. Regular members can be thumb printed for door access rights.

The space is on the 2nd floor of an early 2000s Shenzhen building, formerly a commercial floor but now with several spaces converted to loft apartments.

Annual Programs

  • Make Fashion Edu: partnering with the Make Fashion team to bring fashion tech initiatives to K-12 students
  • Nanshan School Maker Faire: partnering with SAIS, Shenzhen American International School, "giving young makers a platform to express themselves"[7]
  • STEAM Summer Camp: partnering with Moralture to host an annual summer camp focusing on design thinking and making

Reoccurring Programs

  • School Volunteers: Steam Head accepts donations and sends volunteers to local migrant schools to bring STEAM education to students and training to teachers
  • R.ED Resident Educator Program: Education community members are invited to stay in the Shenzhen space for 1 month residencies
  • After School Classes: Steam Head partners with Moralture to bring workshops to K-8 students

Members of the space also participate in local Maker Faires by running workshops[8] and tours,[9] and also send representatives to maker events around the world including Brazil,[10] the U.K., Germany, and Canada.

History

Steam Head makerspace's founding members Benjamin James Simpson, Carrie Leung, Luke Henderson, and Emma Cheung have established the space as a makerspace for Educational R&D. As one of the first maker education spaces in Shenzhen, China, SteamHead found its roots in 2011, organizing free language lessons for manufacturing workers in China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

In 2014 Shenzhen the organization began offering science and technology lessons to migrant children. In 2015, they partnered with Litchee Lab to create educational programs[11] and workshops.[12] By 2017 SteamHead had relocated and started a makerspace in Shenzhen, China.

References

  1. ↑ Shangqing, Ye (September 2017). "Eye Shenzhen Magazine". Eye Shenzhen.
  2. ↑ "Hello Shenzhen: Legacy and follow up grants". British Council | Creative Economy. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  3. ↑ Simpson, James. "Students' dreams made into fashion". Shenzhen Daily. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  4. ↑ "Shenzhen Special 6 – Maker Ed". Looking Sideways. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  5. ↑ "6 Coolest Makerspaces of Shenzhen, China - Get in the Ring". Get in the Ring. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  6. ↑ Nylander, John (Feb 2018). "Silicon Valley of the East". AmChamHK. American Chamber of Commerce. pg 43
  7. ↑ "Shenzhen Standouts". MAKE magazine. Make Media. March 2018. p. 40.
  8. ↑ "Meet the Maker: STEAMHead". www.shenzhenmakerfaire.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  9. ↑ cenatus, dandelion & burdock //. "HELLO SHENZHEN: PODCAST SERIES". Lighthouse. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  10. ↑ campuspartybrasil. "Design Thinking na Educação #CPBR11". Campuse.ro. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  11. ↑ Green, Brandon. "Building Blocks: Litchee Lab Helps Chinese Children Engineer Their Ideas Into Reality". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  12. ↑ Marshall, Justin (April 2016). "Making with China" (PDF): 5 – via North Umbria University. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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