We have thoroughly
enjoyed our first year working with the Imagineering Foundation and introducing
local school children at Monkshouse Primary School to the fascinating world of
engineering and technology.
Guttridge teamed up with
the Imagineering Foundation to help inspire the next generation of engineers
and to try and engage females into considering STEM careers. All Guttridge
tutors are registered STEM ambassadors and aim to open the doors to a world of
opportunities which come from pursuing STEM subjects and careers.
The Imagineering
Foundation is an independent educational charity that aims to introduce 8-16
year olds to the fascinating world of engineering, science and technology
through fun, hands-on activities and the personal involvement of volunteers
with engineering knowledge. Imagineering clubs provide children with a positive
first experience to engineering by building a series of working engineering
models influenced by the STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and
Maths.
The Imagineering
Foundation provided us with all of the materials and guidance notes for a year
full of fun and interesting projects. The projects that we have completed include,
Aeroglide, Magnetic Compass, Steady Hand Game, Bloodhound Rocket Car, Robotic
Duck, Fuse Tester and Radio. Once each project is complete the children can
take them home to share with their families.
Mathew Frost, one of our
Guttridge tutors, commented, the
Imagineering clubs that Guttridge hold are a great advantage to the students that participate and the projects that we cover provide them with great life skills which sadly seem to
be neglected in modern education. During
our first year of holding the clubs I feel that Guttridge will influence their subject decisions and possibly their career choices in future life. It is great
to be a part of something which is so enjoyable yet hugely educational for the children
and it۪s lovely to see them so engaged and interested in the engineering
projects. It is certainly very rewarding when they finish a project and are excited
to take them home to share with their loved ones. I am confident that the time
and effort that we have provided has influenced the students enough to produce
great engineers in the future!
Both our Guttridge tutors and the school children have been extremely
enthusiastic throughout the year and we are looking forward to holding the
clubs again in September.