LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – If you’re over 40, you may remember those bookmobiles that used to visit schools. Now Calcasieu Parish has a “Mobile Makerspace” bus to offer the latest in technology to students.
At Oak Park Middle School, they are using iPads and the language of coding to program robots to take a specific route.
Student Ava Fay said it’s a fun way to learn. It could be used by, say, a food delivery service.
“You would place your robot on where you’re starting and count how many spaces it takes to get to your destination, and using the app the way it’s set up, it’s like little directions that control the robot,” Ava said.
Kim LeBlanc is the chief technology officer for the Calcasieu School Board. She said it allows activities that enhance what they are learning in the classroom.
“We are focusing on activities that bring about critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration – any kind of skill that we can prepare kids for the future because we’re unsure as to what all the jobs are going to be,” she said.
They collaborate with teachers to enrich learning. One activity was using programming to control where drones drop packages.
“They are using the drones to control and deliver the Amazon package, so you actually have to land at the target to get the package delivered,” LeBlanc said.
Inside the bus are other kinds of technology to experience such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
Ca’leaa Simien is creating art using what they call augmented reality.
“I made the sun spin less and I made the earth orbit around the sun,” she explained, showing her digital art on the iPad.
The bus is now available for teachers to book for their students. It’s one way to have a field trip without even leaving the school grounds.
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