Dream "Maker Cart"

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tgoo...@chapin.edu

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Dec 3, 2015, 5:20:06 PM12/3/15
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If you were going to put together a cart that you could take from class to class with a variety of cool maker tools, physical computing elements and robotics gear what would you include? Hoping to make this dream a reality for our middle school to expose the girls to some of the things I would like to have in our future maker space.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Trude Goodman

Joshua Merrow

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Dec 4, 2015, 8:52:01 AM12/4/15
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Hi Trude

Having made one, I learned that I should have controlled my impulse to want to have everything on the cart, sort of a maker RV that did everything. It's much easier to have swappable bins so the cart can roll in equipped for the task at hand. Anyway, I used an old TV cart and made a steel chassis for it with 10" pneumatic wheels. I bolted a little bandsaw, drill press, and belt sander (all from harbor freight) to the top and added some tool racks. It works pretty well. The bins on the shelves can hold electronics stuff, art materials, whatever's needed. A few photos are attached.

Best
Josh
Riverdale Country School
IMG_20141105_121129.jpg
IMG_20141105_121044.jpg
IMG_20141105_121014.jpg

John Baglio

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Dec 4, 2015, 10:19:52 AM12/4/15
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Some things that I would definitely put on this cart would be the following:
Hot glue guns
Scissors
Random craft materials (high versatility): popsicle sticks/tongue depressors, bamboo skewers, cardboard, foam sheets, string, duct tape, cardboard
Paint
Paint Brushes
Mixing trays
X-acto knives
LED's
Resistors
DC motors
Batteries (coin cell CR 2032's, AAs, AAA's, 9v)
Battery holders
Wire, insulated, 
Conductive tape
Hummingbird Boards (I prefer to Arduino for ease of use in lower grades): great for robotics/physical computing
Hummingbird servos, sensors, etc. that come with kit
Computers (do you have them in the room already?)
Safety glasses?
Soldering irons?
Self-healing cutting mats
T-square(s)
Magnets
Super glue

Hope this gets the ball rolling!


On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:20:06 PM UTC-5, tgoo...@chapin.edu wrote:

John Baglio

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Dec 4, 2015, 10:22:00 AM12/4/15
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Josh,
That's amazing!

Vinnie Vrotny

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Dec 4, 2015, 10:29:11 AM12/4/15
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Here are two examples, one from my school, another example from a teacher who I respect deeply. This is how they have addressed this:

Krissy Venosdale - http://venspired.com/its-not-about-the-space-all-learning/ (this is from my school. In the picture, you will see the maker cart for our elementary school. Removable bins for swapping materials out.

Jacob Lingley - http://iteachmath.ca/2015/01/19/the-makercart-our-best-idea-yet/

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Vinnie Vrotny
Director of  Technology, Kinkaid School
Blog - Multi-Faceted Refractions  (vvrotny.org)
Twitter, Skype, etc. - vvrotny
847-921-0023


"The role of the teacher is to create the conditions for invention rather than provide ready-made knowledge" ~ Seymour Papert

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth" ~Roberto Clemente

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Mark Barnett

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Dec 4, 2015, 11:00:42 AM12/4/15
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Great looking carts!

There is also a company in Austin Texas called Maker Ready that makes custom carts: http://makerready.com/

You can see pics of the carts on their FB: https://www.facebook.com/makerready


To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/CAHf%3D7h0tc89KkO5vr-tDkW4C8OtWRaOVBzktLUnWNdJ-xhh1nA%40mail.gmail.com.

Mark Barnett

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Dec 4, 2015, 11:04:12 AM12/4/15
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Josh Weisgrau

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Dec 6, 2015, 8:45:39 PM12/6/15
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This is the cart that I designed and built to supplement our makerspace when we have too many projects going at once. 
It has lots of swappable storage, a built in desk for a laptop and cameo cutter, and the cover can be used as a workbench.



On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:20:06 PM UTC-5, tgoo...@chapin.edu wrote:

Lindsey Own

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Dec 7, 2015, 9:55:59 AM12/7/15
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That's awesome, Josh

Mark Loundy

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Dec 7, 2015, 2:19:50 PM12/7/15
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Josh,

I wish Google Groups had a "Like" function. This is great!

Mark Loundy

Instructional Technology Specialist
De Vargas Elementary School
Cupertino (Calif.) Union School District

Diego Fonstad

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Dec 8, 2015, 11:43:23 PM12/8/15
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Great thread.

My first reaction to this discussion was that there seemed to be two general directions such a cart could go:
- One Man Band - The cart itself is a do-all that showcases the makerspace (mini Sparktruck?)
- Clown car - The cart magically unpacks with everything you need.

I haven't built a one at Castilleja yet but have tended to learn towards the "clown car" approach: carry as much as possible to the destination with the intent of unloading there.  That said, I also really like the other approach because it creates a very visible showcase of what is possible.  

Option 1: Pure organizer cart:
(I can't find the original one I bought that this is an amazing deal if it is any good!)

It was good but the challenge with a pure bin-cart is that it is nice to have a work area .  So I shifted to  a more sturdy workbench model that can carry stuff

Option 2: Work cart that can carry flexible bins
I like this, it is robust, and practical... but a little boring.

Option 3: DIY cart.
If you want to build from scratch, and have the budget for it, I love the AKRO bins... there are many knock offs but I haven't found anything of similar quality. The bins come in various sizes and they are very strong.  You can also bolt their panels to your own projects for DIY carts
I'm also a fan of using the Z-Rack as the base.  
That's how I built a 3d Printer cart: http://widgetfactory.org/blog/

I'm also a believer in making the larger tools portable.  To that end I've made enclosures for my 3d Printer and OtherMill to make it easy to transport them.  Here's an example of the Othermill enclosure (3d printer is in an in-progress enclosure alongside) 

Finally, I haven't tried it yet, but one idea to explore within the cart concept is to provide the student teams each a "tool bag" such as these http://www.zoro.com/klein-tools-bull-pin-bolt-bag/g/00073305/ which I use myself to carry my own essential tools where ever I go.

They look cool and are very practical...

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Kenton Hoover

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Dec 9, 2015, 5:31:16 PM12/9/15
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This is cool but I agree about need to control ones impulses about the "maker RV". Unless you really need to drive it around, of course.

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Dylan Ryder

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Dec 10, 2015, 10:42:15 AM12/10/15
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I love seeing all these designs everyone!


I do a cardboard construction unit with my 5th graders to introduce engineering design process and hand tool use, and I wheel in this "meta-cardboard maker cart" into their classrooms (pictures below). They are challenge to design and prototype cardboard furniture pieces that can be used in the school.


The cart is one half tool cabinet and one half raw materials bin. I echo the strategy for agile and interchangeable storage units in your cart. Swapping out tools and bins quickly is a big help.


The tool cabinet has shelves, bins, magnetic racks and charging in the base for the power tools. The materials bin in the back has an array of recovered cardboard pieces in varied flutes and geometries for students to build with.


- Dylan




  





On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:20:06 PM UTC-5, tgoo...@chapin.edu wrote:

Thomie timmons

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Dec 10, 2015, 1:06:35 PM12/10/15
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Thanks for starting this Trude!  Wow gang, lots of great stuff here. We are trying to do a lab for two adjacent buildings separated by a parking lot.  This could be a great solution for us!  ~Thomie


On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:20:06 PM UTC-5, tgoo...@chapin.edu wrote:

Dawn Berkeley

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Dec 10, 2015, 2:24:57 PM12/10/15
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Good stuff Josh!

Sammie Smith

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Dec 10, 2015, 6:00:21 PM12/10/15
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We also have a traveling MakerCart...which gets used only sporadically during the school year.  It contains no robotics items at all since we have an existing robotics club at all schools levels.
My cards are more for rapid prototyping and contain things like...

Paper, cardboard, cardstock, rulers, calculators, scissors, glue guns, pencils, pens, markers, pipe cleaners, art straws, felt, fabrics, screwdrivers/screws, hammers, etc.
When a teacher wants them for electronics units I add batteries, LEDs, wires, jumper cables, etc. depending on their needs and the project.

Sammie

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tgoo...@chapin.edu

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Dec 10, 2015, 8:07:09 PM12/10/15
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Thanks for all of the awesome ideas, everyone. I am very inspired!

Trude

Benjamin Howe

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Dec 15, 2015, 6:57:34 PM12/15/15
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Hi Everyone,

 This thread is awesome since it is my life! Lots of ideas for me to consider and think about! Here is my mobile maker story...

 I have been trying to start a maker program at my school the last year. I have gone from no budget to a small budget in a year. (It took lots of pushing administrators and proving what I could do.) I teach technology to K-4 at a private school in California. 

 Since the city of Palo Alto has weird zoning laws, my school's current location is not allowed to add any more space for classrooms (We are maxed out on school size and space usage). We also have been renting the land for 40 years behind a church so they aren't interested in really any permanent structures. So everything I have to do is mobile and I roll it outside to the lunch tables during lunch recess. The 3-4 lunch courtyard makes a nice outdoor classroom currently. 

 I started with this cart as an experiment last year. It was $20 at RAFT with a few modifications added on to it and served me well. It was just very hard to keep organized. I borrowed money from the library budget to fund low-cost maker activities. 


 I also received this rolling whiteboard through a donation last year. I use it for students to brainstorm on one side and they sign-in and out on the back. By forcing them to check out with me before they leave I get to make sure they clean up their work area. 



 This week I just got this cart and I am still in the process of organizing it. It is a DREAM to have now! The students can find things and clean-up is a lot faster since they have about 25 minutes to make and 5 minutes to clean up for lunch right afterwards. I bought it from Uline and it is the same as the Akro-Mils version just a few hundred dollars cheaper. In fact, some of the parts say Akro-Mils on them. Uline just has the manufacture make it for them, print their name on it, and they sell it cheaper then Akro-Mils. In the background you will see a plastic laundry cart that I bought as well to hold large pieces of cardboard for the students to use.



 My goal next year is we are going to put in roughly a 10ft. x 10ft. shed near the other lunch area. I can use it for student storage and to hold the carts. Right now the carts go into my tiny office and I have little space to work. I also took over a nearby 4ft x 4ft shed that the students store their projects in on a shelf. Once I have the shed next year I will put some of the panels like the cart up on my wall and then I can rotate bins out based on projects and materials needed. I currently kind of have the mobile RV as people have pointed out... 


 Right now maker time is only open to 3rd and 4th and 2nd is in the process of being trained. Eventually I will get to K and 1st. It is open tinker time and the students do everything from sewing, e-textiles, soldering, basic circuitry, woodworking, to mostly using cardboard and lots of duct tape and hot glue. Wow it is amazing how fast duct tape and hot glue disappears...


 -Ben

 ____________________________

Ben Howe
Lower School Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist
KEYS SCHOOL

Lower School
2890 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Middle School 
3981 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306

f 650.855.9547  

Maureen Reilly

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Dec 16, 2015, 6:11:53 AM12/16/15
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Hi!

I think the parenthetical definition of mobile maker space is (limited space). We tried a mobile 3-shelf wire cart with some success in our NYC vertical living and space challenged Lower Middle School building to some success. Our cart services roughly 180 girls for the grades 3-5 STEAM class - it's open for them to use anytime - the goal is independent access and maintenance.

We filled the cart with the most requested supplies from our girls (all answers to, "Can I have?" "Do you know where I can find...?"). Recently (as they have become more maker empowered) they are requesting more tools and more varied supplies.

We're trying a new cart after the holiday break. It's petit so it can travel through our narrow hallways, but it's packed with storage potential with a pegboard and shelves. The original wire cart will be repurposed for an after school class.

We're finding that to enable open and independent access to supplies that it's helpful to have a visual system for finding and returning items, and to curate new supplies as requested by students or playfully provoked by teachers.

Here's the cart:

Will post "after" picks once it comes and is set up.

Happy Holidays and happy making,

-Maureen Reilly
Marymount School, NYC
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