Son takes final exams. That is exciting. For him, but also for me. He is my eldest child, so everything I experience with him is a first. Of course, I once took exams myself, but these days things are different. Also because he is at the Technasium. You didn't have that education in my secondary school days.
Practical assignments
The Technasium offers science education at havo and vwo level. Everything revolves around the subject Research & Design (R&D), in which students work on practical assignments in teams. This happens from the first year up to and including the exam. They develop skills such as creativity, entrepreneurship, cooperation, inventiveness, communication, planning, project-based work, organisation and process- and knowledge-oriented work. Skills that come in useful for further technical studies and technical professions.
For the R&D exam, son is doing his master's thesis in a team with 3 classmates. For this, they searched for a principal and an expert supervisor themselves (conveniently using my technical network).
3D Makers Zone
They found their client at 3D Makers Zone in Haarlem. Companies and students can go there for professional 3D printing, high-end 3D scanning and design for 3D printing. This client challenged them to design a longboard (that is not a skateboard according to son) and manufacture parts of it using 3D printing technology. But the young gentlemen are raising the bar even higher. Their longboard will be powered by an electric motor.
With interest and admiration, I sometimes look over son's shoulder as he works on the PC with the digital 'construction drawings' to print the longboard three-dimensionally. This is his speciality in the team. For this, he can count on tips from experts at 3D Makers Zone.
Power of LinkedIn
The gentlemen were still in their minds about the electric motor, though. Where could they find electric motor experts? 'Shall I make a call via Linkedin?" I asked cautiously. It was allowed. And what then happened was heartwarming ánd showed the power of this professional network. The message was shared dozens of times and liked even more. More than 10,000 people saw it and several individuals and companies offered to help. An instruction book was even sent.
Nice to see tech specialists springing into action when young techies need their help. And proof that you really can reach techies through social media. As long as they see the point.
Challenging education
In March, son presents the final result with his teammates. His teacher, the principal and the expert supervisor will judge their project. But you know what's so great? Son said the other day: 'Suppose we don't get a pass for our master's thesis, I will still be satisfied with our project. Because I have learnt so much. I know how to approach people and get things done, I can work with software to 3D design and print objects, I have learned laser cutting and now know quite a lot about electric motors.'
So see, this is what challenging education like the Technasium does to young people.
