uOttawa Maker Mobile Workshop
The uOttawa Maker Mobile Workshop is a Makerspace on wheels. Carrying the latest technologies, the Maker Mobile delivers fun hands-on learning activities to schools, libraries and community centres across the region, complementing the school curriculum. Workshops can be bilingual and tailored to your needs!
Our goal is to encourage creativity, problem-solving skills and interest in technology among everyone in the community.
Locations
Ottawa-Gatineau region
From September 2018 to June 2019, we have reached a total of 511 schools, over 36,000 kids and have given over 1383 workshops in the National Capital Region and the province of Ontario and Québec.
Outside of the Ottawa-Gatineau region
The Maker Mobile sometimes travels to other regions in Ontario and Québec. If you are interested in having the Maker Mobile come to your school or region, please contact us at makermobile@uOttawa.ca, call us at 613-562-5800 ext 6973 or sign-up to be notified if we are visiting your region.
Due to COVID-19, the Faculty of Engineering Outreach Office is offering most of its programs in an online format until further notice. We are still accepting registrations for all summer programs, see this page for updated details.
Workshops for students
Registration
Discover our workshops and choose the one(s) that will best suit your students’ interests and your curriculum.
- Select two potential workshop dates. Registrations for workshops are done on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Once registration is complete, you will receive an email from Adventures 1-3 business days following the receipt of your application. Occasionally, it can take up to 5 business days for us to contact you. If you do not hear back within a week, please send us an email at: makermobile@uottawa.ca.
- Once your registration has been processed, we will send you an email with a tentative schedule. You must review it thoroughly then reply by email to either confirm your registration or make changes.
Workshop sequence
“Advanced 3D printing” and “Laser cutting” must be the first session booked in the morning or afternoon since these workshops are a minimum of 2 hours. This is to allow for processing time of printing or cutting. For this reason, there's a maximum of two “Advanced 3D Printing” or “Laser cutting” workshops that can be booked each day.
Language
- English, French, and Immersion
Cost
At your school or location:
- $525 for a full day (4 workshops, for up to 4 classes)
- $995 for a full day (8 workshops, for up to 8 classes)
- $335 for morning only (2 workshops, for up to 2 classes)
On campus:
- $395 for a full day (up to 4 workshops)
- $295 for half a day (up to 2 workshops)
Group size
- Maximum 30 students per workshop
Preparing your venue
Our dynamic instructors will come to your school with the Maker Mobile!
The teacher must always remain in the classroom and will be required to complete a short evaluation at the end of the workshop.
Requirements
- Classroom or laboratory with at least 2 electrical outlets
- A projector
- Wi-Fi access (please have the password ready for our instructors)
- For a 3D printing workshop, we will need a table to install our three 3D Printers (close to power outlets)
- Access ramp to bring in the machinery (if available)
Discover all our workshops for students
3D printing (introduction)
- Grade 2 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to this new technology, and will discover its functionality and applications. In small groups, they will have the opportunity to create their own 3D model of a Lego character’s head using Tinkercad, a user-friendly 3D modeling software. We won't have time to print each individual student's design, but each student will get an example, 3D printed during the workshop.
3D printing (advanced)
- Grade 2 to 12
- Duration 2.5 hours (counts as two workshops)
In this advanced interactive workshop, participants will discover this new technology from how it works to its multitude of uses. They will have more time to create their own 3D model in small groups using Tinkercad, a user-friendly 3D modeling software. Depending on their grades, they will design a more complex prototype then during the Introduction workshop. Next, they will learn how to print their design with the 3D printers, and turn it into reality. During the printing time, students will also work on more design challenges.
- Grade 2: Cookie Cutter. Students will turn a 2D drawing into a 3D shape, which they can use as a cookie cutter.
- Grade 3 to 6: Creative Character. Students will create their own character while investigating the 3D design process.
- Grade 7 to 8: Catapult. Students will learn how to design in 3D and build their own catapult using a 3D printed part and other materials.
- Grade 9 to 12: Science: Students will design a top. They will investigate forces, inertia and torque as well as the design process.
Arduino
- Grade 5 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
In this interactive workshop, students will get a chance to learn about microcontrollers by programming an Arduino board and controlling its various inputs and outputs (lights). In this day and age, open source microcontrollers like the Arduino have become mainstream and have been adopted by electronic hobbyists around the world. This workshop gives participants a good introduction to the world of electronics and electrical engineering.
Arduino (advanced)
- Grade 7 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
This workshop is to be booked as a second workshop after the first Arduino workshop or for students with previous programming experience. More advanced programming concepts such as loops and arrays will be explored.
Bee-bot
- Kindergarten to grade 2
- Duration 75 minutes
Bee-Bot is an award-winning programmable robot, perfect for teaching orientation, sequencing, estimation and programming to young children. Students will have the opportunity to complete the challenge of programming their Bee-Bot to make its way through a maze.
Codemaker programming and scratch
- Kindergarten to grade 7
- Duration 75 minutes
Students will learn to program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they will learn to solve problems, design projects and express themselves creatively on the iPad or laptops.
We will provide the iPads or laptops for this workshop, so access to other computers is not necessary.
- Kindergarten to grade 3: Scratch Jr on iPads
- Grade 3-6: Hopscotch on iPads
- Grade 4-7: Scratch on laptops
Coding with Micro:bits
- Grade 4 to 7
- Duration 75 minutes
In this interactive workshop, students will learn basic coding concepts and will create their own game using a Micro:bit board. A Micro:bit is a small board, half the size of a credit card, that has a micro-processor, accelerometer, sensors, a display of 25 LEDs and two programmable buttons. It’s now used around the world to encourage children to get actively involved in writing software and building new things.
Create your own animal habitats in AR
- Grade 4 to 7
- Duration 75 minutes
Students will learn about different animal habitats and their characteristics. Then, they will create their own animal habitat in 3D using the online software CoSpaces. They will learn how to animate their animals and use simple coding concepts to make them move. Afterwards, using a Merge cube, they will see their habitat come to life with augmented reality!
Note that there is a maximum of 4 AR or VR workshops (combined) per day and they can't run simultaneously.
Create your own VR world with CoSpaces
- Grade 6 to 12
- Duration 75 min to 2 hours
Students will learn how to create a 3D world using the online software CoSpaces. They will create and code a roller coaster to move along a path. Then, they will be able to go inside their roller coaster to try it in a virtual world with an Oculus Go headset!
Note that there is a maximum of 4 AR or VR workshops (combined) per day and they can't run simultaneously.
Electricity
- Grade 8 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
In this hands-on workshop, students will design, build and test simple parallel and series circuits. They will investigate different electrical components such as transistors and switches.
Engineering design (wind turbine)
- Grade 7 to 12
- Duration 2.5 hours
In this interactive workshop, students will learn the step-by-step process of Engineering Design, from conceptualizing, to designing and creating renewable energy by making wind turbines. Students will learn how to transform the wind’s kinetic energy into electrical energy using their wind turbine. They will get to design, build and test their prototypes and will have to adjust their design in order to produce the most energy. Our giant light board will be used to show the amount of electricity that they produced.
The Engineering design process includes many steps. The first part of this workshop will be to design their turbine. After having built their wind turbine, students will have a chance to test it and will return to their station to adjust their product for the final competition.
Green engineering (solar energy)
- Grade 8 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
In this hands-on workshop, students will learn about solar energy. They will investigate, test and compare solar panels in series and parallel circuits by measuring electrical voltages and currents.
Laser cutting
- Grade 3 to 12
- Duration 2.5 hours (counts as 2 workshops)
This workshop is all about using a high precision laser to cut and etch materials. Using the software Inkscape, participants will design a project in 2D, that will be cut by the laser, and assembled to make a 3D object. They will learn all about this versatile tool and its applications.
- Grade 3 to 4: Bird House
- Students will design and build a small bird house made of cardboard (in teams of 2-3) that will be laser cut.
- Grade 5 to 6: Glider
- Students will create a 3D airplane from a 2D design (in teams of 2-3) that will be laser cut.
- Grade 7 to 8: Candy Box
- Students will create a 3D box from a 2D design (in teams of 2-3) that will be laser cut.
- Grade 9 to 12:
- Science: Students will learn about the benefits and challenges of a nature bridge (a place where animals cross the highway). Students will then design their own nature bridge (in teams of 2-3) and cut it out of cardboard on the laser cutter.
- Technology: Students will design a chair to scale (in teams of 2-3), and cut it out of cardboard on the laser cutter while learning about the design process.
Little Bits
- Grade 2 to 4
- Duration 75 minutes
In this hands-on workshop, students will investigate circuits and computer logic using electronic building blocks called Little Bits, while learning some basic programming concepts.
Programmable electric car
- Grade 7 to 12
- Duration 75 minutes
In this hands-on workshop, participants will get the chance to bring together digital and physical worlds by programming a small car robot to go through a maze. Concepts of vectors and programming will be introduced.
Robots and creative art
- Grade 3 to 7
- Duration 75 minutes
In this interactive workshop, students will learn robotics basics using Jade Robots, an educational robot designed to engage and excite youth about STEM. Using basic coding concepts, they will program their robot to make it draw a creative art piece!
Birthday parties
Themes
- Choose one of the themes
Break-out the code! (9 to 12 years old)
Based on the popular "Escape room" game, participants will have to work together to solve riddles and clues in order to open locks and break the box open! They will use technology like micro:bits and some coding concepts to solve the mystery of the Break-Out box!
Robotics Birthday party (5 to 8 years old)
Kids will participate in fun hands-on activities and games with 2 types of robots: Beebots and Ozobots. They will program the beebots to go through a maze and use the colors to program the "cool moves" of the ozobots!
Cost
- At your house: $225 (wifi is required for the Break-out.)
- On campus: $175
Duration
- The activity will last about 60 to 75 minutes.
- For birthday on campus, you will have the room for 2 hours. We do not provide any food, but you can bring your own.
A parent needs to be present to help supervise the kids at all times.
Group size
Maximum of 10 kids.
To book the Maker Mobile for a birthday party, please inquire about availability at makermobile@uOttawa.ca. It is recommended to reserve at least 3 weeks before the desired date.
Workshops for parents
Programming for parents
The goal of this workshop designed specifically for parents, tutors or guardians is to teach them how to code and enable them to support their children in developing this new skill.
Coding is a new skill that we believe every child should learn. It is the best way to understand technology and allows kids to develop problem-solving, critical thinking and logic, while encouraging creativity! Since coding can be learnt at a very young age, we will be running a 2-hour long workshop, divided in two parts of one hour each.
- Part one: Coding for parents of grade K-3 using Scratch Jr on iPads.
- Part two: Coding for parents of grade 4-8 using Scratch on laptops.
Parents can choose to participate to either or both parts of the workshop. Participants will be able to learn the basis of coding by doing hands-on activities, such as coding simple stories, using iPads or laptops that will be provided.
Cost: $325 for 2 hours
When: Workshops can be held as an after school activity. You may choose a date that is convenient for your school to be holding the workshop.
Another option that could be offered to your school would be a “Coding night for families”, where both parents and children would learn to code together (maximum of 30 families).
Community events
Community event kiosk
Invite the uOttawa Maker Mobile Workshop to your community event! The activities can be held either inside or outside.
- Activities available: 3D printing demonstration, robotic activities with Ozobots, Beebots, etc.
- Cost: $335 for a half-day or $525 for a full day.
- Contact makermobile@uOttawa.ca for further details.
Additional details
Do I need to give the exact number of students participating?
Yes. In order for the uOttawa Maker Mobile to be able to sustain its programs (including workshops at schools), we rely on sponsorship from a number of partners. Therefore, we must provide accurate statistics, including the number of students participating in each workshop.
Do you offer free workshops?
Yes, we offer a number of free workshops to a variety of non-profit organizations, including community centres, youth groups, aboriginal and Inuit centres, Boys and Girls clubs, Scout groups, and Girl Guide groups. To find out if your group/organization is eligible for a free workshop, or to book one, please email us.
Can I rent some of your equipment (3D Printers, lasers, ect.)?
No. However, the uOttawa Richard L’Abbé Makerspace is open to the general public on Sundays and you are welcome to come and work on your personal projects for free.
Reserving multiple workshops
What is the maximum number of workshops that can be booked in one day?
We can offer a maximum of eight Maker Mobile workshops in one day, with a maximum of 2 workshops running simultaneously (subject to equipment availability.)
Can I book 3D printing workshops and laser cutting workshops for the same day?
Yes. However, you can only reserve one of each for the same day. 3D printing and laser cutting must be booked as the first workshops in the morning and/or afternoon. This will allow extra time for the tools to complete their tasks (i.e. to print or to laser-cut the designs). For this reason, 3D printing and laser cutting workshops cannot be booked back-to-back.
What is the minimum number of workshops I need to book?
There is no minimum. However, if you book only one workshop, you will be charged for a half-day ($335).
Can I book four 3D printing workshops for the same day?
No. There is a maximum of two 3D printing workshops per day. 3D printing workshops must be booked as the first workshop in the morning and/or afternoon in order to leave enough time for the printers to complete their prints. For this reason, 3D printing workshops cannot be booked back-to-back.
Can I reserve four identical workshops in the same day?
Yes. However, 3D printing and laser cutting workshops are limited to two per day (or one of each per day). Any other workshop can be reserved for up to four times in one day.