Technology as a means of improving children’s creativity

With the makerspace technology Engr Terfa Addingi, hopes to make this summer for a memorable one for children as he plans to train them on building and designs, BINTA SHAMA writes.

Engr. Terfa Addingi the inventor of IJODO TRACTORS, says, “I have made plans for kids to use their minds to be more creative by applying the makerspace in their activities to invent simple technology to design and build things in my Autodesk certified Centre in Abuja this August.”

Egnr. Terfa Addingi and his wife Mrs. Samantha Addingi are collaborating to relieve parents from the stress of having to beat themselves up over the welfare of their children being at home under the supervision of either a teenager or total stranger, while they are at work.

According to him, it will be in such a way that the kids would be engaged in creative activities such as music, dancing, vocals, and the very special one ‘coding’ which has to do with the makerspace in B&S music and coding classes.

About the makerspace

A makerspace has been defined as a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools.  These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs. It’s more of the maker mindset of creating something out of nothing and exploring your own interests that’s at the core of a makerspace.

These space also help to prepare those who need the critical 21st century skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).  They provide hands on learning, help with critical thinking skills and even boost self-confidence.  Some of the skills that are learned in a makerspace pertain to electronics, 3d printing, 3D modeling, coding, robotics and even woodwork. Makerspaces also foster entrepreneurship and are being utilized as incubators and accelerators for business startups.

Impacting STI on kids

According to Addingi “Makerspace is common in most European forward-thinking countries that feel the common elementary should go beyond the classroom as it is today. Great inventors we see today did not just become great because of school alone, but the ability to think and be creative. Working on small things are missing for our kids these days and what I am trying to do is to introduce such a small and simple way that would enable the child grasp without hitches.

“I have been trying to get my international Autodesk certification, where I can train people both adults and kids and certify them as long as they go through my training they would be recognised around the world and this will certainly beef up my profile and all that, and they can also go further to learn and make things like robot arms.

“You make all sorts of things with a microcontroller by Arduino. You program people on how to use it to control things like machines you can also design anything and give it a brain. There are small applications coming from the Arduino, you know what I am trying to teach them in a way is breaking it from the grassroots. For instance, a car has a brain box which is a microprocessor which is very small and can control things like if you put on the ignition of a car it is expected to send a signal to the engine and if it is an automatic car, it changes gear on its own without your inputs.

“Now what is making it work on its own is a programming on the brain box itself. Do you know you just need to do something that will come within that range and the computer will do the next thing. There are small micro processes that can do wonders in our homes and offices without our consistent intervention, once it senses no one around it would do exactly what you have programmed it to do like switching off or shutting down automatically leaving a particular electrical appliance on like a fridge and when it senses people around the premises it can power itself again. Now you see with this kind of invention we can avoid fire breakage or hazards.

“There are small sensors available that when you program it, it can power your Air-Conditioner by itself when it senses the weather hot. It will shock you to know that a child as young as 5years old to the ages of 16years can be involved in this and within a short period of time, they become professionals in the field.”

The Centre’ll impact knowledge

“With this knowledge, children can on their own be busy creating things and you will be shocked on the number of geniuses Nigeria will be breeding in the likes of Bill Gates and others because in my opinion, we aren’t really maximizing this technology that we have. On the other hand I am trying to teach children on how to design and take the technology at the same time teaching them on how the technology works.

“I hope to go beyond this level by taking it to the school level because it is better to start with them at an early stage, we need indigenous hands to be able to develop further. By the time I am able to train people to do these things with the likes of major project I am working with right now, we won’t need to count on calling foreign expertise to guide us through some major or minor projects.”

Creativity: Reason for combining science & music

According to a music enthusiast Mr. Chucks Ngaha, music is the harmonious arrangement of sounds and tones with the aid of musical accompaniment to make a harmonious sound that is pleasing to the soul and to the listener. He said it is not a talent that should be taken for granted because it is an attribute of the humanity in us that enables us to exhibit such talents. Music actually is in everybody, but it just takes a level of humility to recognize this phenomenon as a positive attribute.

Furthermore, Mrs. Addingi said the reason for the combination of innovation alongside music is for kids to find out their talents and explore things because they are gifted in different areas some in information technology (I.T), music, dance, etc. so they can explore in order to discover themselves. It is a form of exposing and educating them to have a one on one absolute build-up.

Every parent should give their wards the opportunity to be part of this from the usual conventional classes which at the end will be worthwhile.

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