FAQ


When will you meet?

TV production will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 on Tuesdays.

Wednesdays from 2:30 or so to 5 ish (depending on the project) and how quickly we get through.  We will be ready for pick by 5:30 each week.  

Where will you meet?

TV will meet in the Studio 
Robo Rams meet in the Idea Nursery  


Who's going to be in charge?

Right now, I'm going to be working alone in the class area.  I'd welcome any and all Vitrtus trained volunteers.

How much does it cost/ How do I pay.

Its $10 a meeting for most projects.  A couple of things like That Blasted Test Day have extra charges. 
Payments are due the Friday before the first meeting for that month. You may pay by using the form in the corner of the page or by sending a check through the school office. 

I have "     " activity can I miss a week.

 The safety meetings are mandatory for all participants. Its held at the beginning of the September and  February. I would strongly suggest you attend each week because they build upon each other.  

What are your programs.
We have three types of programs.
Beginner and Intermediate  Lego is based on the Lego kits you buy.  We work as a group to allow the kids a chance to complete their projects or the group project. We have Lego Races and Build offs. 
FLL is a chance for us to build strange things out of Legos. We combine many things into one project using things not normally associated with Lego. FLL is for Students in 4th to 8th grade.
Makers and Breakers is a chance to explore engineering by taking apart items and building things from them. 
Makers and Breakers is for kids in the 4th-8th grades. 
TV production is a program for the kids to develop camera and on air skills.  Its great for kids wanting to have a Youtube channel. 

Why should you be in charge/ What experience do you have?

I attended Kirkman Technical High School, and Chattanooga State Tech electronics programs.  I am currently a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers.  I have been working for a local television station for 20 + years and have owned and operated a computer repair company until 2011.  I have been a lifelong tinkerer and builder of science projects.  

My son and I have built a number of science based projects. 

Where did you get the idea to start this?

I was reading about the Tinkers School and wished that I could get my child who was in kindergarten at the time  in the program.  He is too young, so I decided to start my own.  Over the last 8 years, I started working with other parents over the internet to design a program.  

 Other parents around the country who are trying to start similar programs in their children's schools include an author, a NASA engineer, and many other tinkers like myself. Together we hope to share our enthusiasm for science and technology. 

I thought you were going to do it for kindergarteners?

The February Program is open to Kindergarten. 

How do you know you can make/do these things safely.

Normally it's fairly safe to take things apart.  The worst injuries normally come from forcing parts or using broken or the wrong tool.  Our first meeting we will go over general and tool specific safety and before each session we will discuss the particular hazards of that days projects.    

For many years I have been building projects like the ones we will be covering.  I will have researched and generally have built a version of each project before the kids will do it.   This is one of the reasons we have an eight week program so there is time for me to test the projects before the children have their chance.
Some projects like our submersible and robot dog projects I just hop on board and follow where the kids lead. 

But there are dangers.  Life is in itself dangerous and we will be working with knives, hammers, saws, and glue.

So far we have had only 5 minor injuries a cut, a bruise and a burn a bee sting and piece of glass in a finger.    

Where do I get safety Glasses?   

The team has several pairs now but if you would like a pair you can check out the link below.

I suggest Lowe's or Home Depot. Here is a good article about safety glasses 

http://www.eyesafety.4ursafety.com/eye-safety-articles.html#choosing.




You can get goggles at Walmart or either of the above. 

I personally suggest goggles for people with glasses if they do not already have prescription sports/safety glasses. 




What is a Maker?


Here is a video that helps explain it.