First principles thinking is the key to unlocking innovation! By breaking down problems into fundamental principles, we can develop new solutions and build a generation of innovators. Reasoning from first principles is a powerful approach to design and innovation which involves breaking down a problem into its most fundamental elements and building up a solution [...]
To conclude British Science Week 2019, The Palladian Academy trust schools held a STEM celebration event over two days at Ralph Allen School, Bath. All the schools in the trust embraced the opportunity to share their work with each other. Around 200 pupils were selected to represent their school and talk about the work their [...]
We continue to work with junior members of the STEAMShip crew to help realise their creative ambitions. This project was a year 8 music homework assignment to create a diagram of an orchestra, showing the various sections - strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. In true STEAMShip style our crew member, Lois, wanted to make something [...]
Nintendo changed the landscape of video games over a decade ago with the revolutionary Wii remote which came bundled with the Wii console. Never before had such a broad span of the population been caught up the world of video game entertainment. The very young, senior citizens, whole families getting together to compete at Wii [...]
During the summer break, we planned a spy activity day to keep some of the younger Steamship crew occupied. The idea was to give them several challenges to complete leading up to one big final challenge to complete the quest. The challenges were all different, some were activity based and others were taxing brain challenges, [...]
We recently held a 'making' activity day themed around dragons. Inspired by this topic we decided to explore some new ideas for using the BBC Micro:Bit creatively, developing projects for making and coding in a creative way is at the heart of everything we do here at the STEAMShip. Hic Est Draco - Roar! [...]
I was excited to receive the original Solder: Time watch by Spikenzie Labs as a birthday present and I thought it would make a good project for a steampunk watch. I have been a fan of nixie tube watches for a while, in particular, the ChronodeVFD cyberpunk wristwatch by J. M. De Cristofaro which isn't [...]
As a seasonal challenge I thought I would try to make a light-up Christmas card. I have documented the entire process and challenges I faced along the way. Why don’t you have a go with some paper circuits? The advantage with using a paper based medium for this project is that it [...]
LED Glowies and Throwies are great little lights which you can use as building blocks for all kinds of STEAM projects. A simple LED Glowie consists of an LED and 1 or 2 cell batteries, taped together. To make one you put the positive wire (longer wire) of the LED on the positive + side [...]
Electro dough is a great way to introduce lessons on circuits to younger learners. It is such a tactile way to get involved with building and engages the creative mind, placing more emphasis on creative play and hands-on exploration. Another advantage is that is it less fiddly to handle than some traditional electronics components - [...]
