Primary school pupils from Middleton Park School in Aberdeen are getting to grips with the latest printing technology at MAKE Aberdeen, the city’s first fabrication studio which is hosted by Robert Gordon University.
MAKE is hosting a series of three workshops for the P6 and P7 pupils, which they won as a prize for being named the ‘Most Creative’ school at the Council’s Children and Young People Awards last year.
The first group of youngsters designed their own unique cardboard cut outs of their favourite Harry Potter character which was then lasercut and printed on the studio’s top of the range equipment.
MAKE studio manager, Ben Durack, who is hosting the workshops, said: “The workshops have been designed around Middleton Park’s World of Imagination, in particular Harry Potter which the P7's will be focussing on. Students collaborate to design and produce their very own printed cardboard cut-out of their favourite character.
“Introducing design and exposing students to this technology at such a young age is hugely important in empowering the next generation to experiment and become comfortable being outside of their comfort zone in order to strive to push the boundaries and innovate.
“Having run the first of three workshops, we have received fantastic feedback from the School and children already, with teachers saying the kids came back to school with a real enthusiasm and it has created a buzz around the school. We look forward to the next two workshops and inspiring the next generation at future workshops.”
The school pupils made a short video about their first trip to the studio - https://vimeo.com/200731716
Councillor Angela Taylor, Education and Children’s Services Convener for Aberdeen City Council said: “This is a terrific project that really caught the children’s imagination and supports the council’s commitment to providing an engaging and flexible curriculum for our pupils.
“Our schools are doing some tremendously innovative work and this is another great example of that.”
Audrey Young, deputy head teacher at Middleton Primary School, added: “It was a day that we will remember for a long time.
“The pupils were enthralled with the power of the technology and what it was capable of doing. The feeling of ownership and pride of what they had achieved was evidenced by the smiles on their faces. Fantastic!”
MAKE Aberdeen offers a wide range of digital fabrication facilities - laser cutting, rapid prototyping, digital tools, and design software - giving users creative opportunities and low cost access to equipment.
The studio is hosted by RGU and supported by Aberdeen City Council, Creative Scotland and the UK Government Super Connected Cities programme.