Introduction
This project documentation highlights the design and creation of the Little Free library STEM library, a collaborative effort by Education Empowers students and Saint Peter Indian Mission school students living in Southern Arizona. Under the guidance of industry mentors, this initiative was undertaken with the primary aim of enriching the educational resources available to students living in the Gila River Native Indian community near Bapchule, Arizona. Our Little STEM library showcases an exemplary initiative driven by native students’ collaboration, innovation, & sustainability!
Project Overview
The Little Free STEM library project emerged from the collective aspirations of students residing in the Gila River Indian community. Their primary objective was to establish a free community library that is based on sustainable energy and would provide easy access to STEM-related books and resources for students. During the 2019-2020 pandemic, due to lack of resources and access to books, students' reading, and comprehension were impacted. Native communities were one of the worst impacted due to the pandemic. This project not only promotes a love for learning but also serves as a catalyst for STEM education access within the native community.
STEM Connection
The project aligns directly with STEM education, emphasizing the significance of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and sustainable energy in everyday life by using sustainable solar technologies for the design of the little library. By offering culturally sensitive reading curriculum, access to STEM-related books and hands-on materials, the Little Free STEM library nurtures a culture of curiosity, exploration, and innovation among community members.
Learning Objectives
The primary learning objectives of this project are as follows:
● Promoting Literacy for Native Indian Youth: Encouraging community members, especially youth to explore reading and STEM subjects through accessible mobile library books.
● Teamwork and Collaboration: Fostering teamwork among students to explore engineering design process and to create and maintain the Little Free STEM Library.
● Introduction to fun STEM activities and electronics: Participants were provided hands-on electronic hardware learning opportunities. Providing hands-on experiences with building Blink LED soldering kits and Jitterbug Soldering kits.
● Sustainable Energy Awareness: Brainstorming, researching and integrating solar and sustainable energy in the design process through building hands-on solar-powered LED light source for the library.
● DIY Skills: Equipping students with DIY tool kits, soldering of electronic hardware, drilling, painting, drawing for crafting and maintenance.
Group Activity
This project was a group activity that engaged students to brainstorm problem statements, research, design solution prototypes, get feedback to improve their design, construct, and share their innovation. To summarise as a team the students used the “engineering design process” to design a solar energy based sustainable Little Free STEM library. Responsibilities were divided efficiently between team members, encompassing tasks ranging from building the ply-wood library structure to curating the STEM book collection and preparing electronic kits for free exploration. It was a comprehensive package of STEAM activities brimming with fun, where the students' creativity was on full display, leaving everyone truly impressed.
Materials List
The following materials were used in creating the Little Free STEM library:
● Ply-wood: Utilized for constructing the library structure.
● Paints: Used for painting and decoration and enhancing aesthetics.
● Collection of STEM-related Books:Curated to offer a diverse range of free educational resources.
● Blink LED Soldering Kits: This electronic hardware were soldered to enable the creation of electronic light circuit boards with batteries and LED lights.
● Jitterbug Soldering Kits:Adding an element of fun, innovation, and interactivity to entice students’ interest in using the library.
● Solar-powered LED Lamps: Students soldered and integrated solar powered LEDS to illuminate the library space sustainably and added access to changing batteries on a regular basis.
● DIY Tool Kits: Equipping students with essential tools such as soldering tools, drilling tools, efficient solar LED design for crafting and maintenance.
Sustainable Energy - Solar Energy
The inclusion of solar-powered LED lamps demonstrates the project's commitment to integrate culturally sensitive sustainable STEM activities that Native youth love to engage in. By harnessing solar energy, the Little Free STEM library reduces its environmental footprint and promotes awareness of renewable energy sources within the community.
Safety Measures
Throughout the project, safety goggles were worn, and rooms were kept open with proper ventilation during soldering, which was a paramount concern. Students were trained in proper soldering techniques to avoid accidents. The use of solar-powered lamps eliminated electrical hazards, and regular safety checks were conducted.
Maintenance and Reliability
To guarantee the consistent functionality of the Little Free STEM library, students perform weekly monitoring. Troubleshooting measures include inspecting solar panels for debris, ensuring proper book organization, and monitoring the status of LED lamps. We also encourage the community members to donate some STEM-related books. These proactive efforts help maintain the library's reliability.
Community Impact
Strategically placed at the entrance of the Saint Peter Indian Mission school, the Little Free STEM library is visible to students as they step down their school buses every day and functions as a versatile resource hub for the native community in Bapchule, Arizona. It provides free and easy access to STEM-related books and educational kits/materials for exploration, enabling residents access to books and electronic activity kits. This dynamic platform fosters a culture of continuous learning and curiosity within the community and encourages residents to donate books for free if they would like to.
The Little Free STEM library project represents a collaborative effort by students to enhance STEAM education and community engagement. It embodies the spirit of Avnet's competition by promoting innovation, sustainability, and knowledge sharing within the neighborhood. This project not only benefits the community but also serves as a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in education and sustainability.
Students’ Testimonials
Our mission was to make the library exciting for native Indian youth. Here are some of the testimonials from our students:
"We used LED lights that can be turned on by touching them, which is cool for young folks. These lights are bright and fun, and they're different from the regular tech stuff you see. We also added some quirky Jitterbug lights to make things even more interesting for our visitors".
"We thought it was important to use solar panels because they're good for the environment and can make energy from the sun. Arizona has a lot of sun, so it made sense to use them. We wanted people to think about how simple inventions like solar panels can help our community and the world".
"Using LED lights and solar panels meant our library would look great even at night, which was a bonus".
"Our team had kids with different skills, and we all worked well together. Some of us knew how to solder, which is a way to connect things. We used this skill to put the LED lights together. We placed LED lights outside the library to make it look fun and put solar lights inside to make it bright in a sustainable way".
"During this project, everyone on our team learned how to solder and about cool STEM stuff that's good for the environment. This project changed our library into a place with cool tech and helped our community learn about innovation and being eco-friendly".
⮚ Innovation and Teamwork:
Right from the start, we had a clear picture of how we wanted our library to look, thanks to our teamwork and brainstorming. But when it came to setting up the solar panels, we ran into some challenges. The solar panels we had were the kind used for backyard lights, and getting them on top of the library was tricky. So, we had to take them off the lamps they were attached to and drill holes in the library. This allowed the LED lights in the lamps to shine through and light up the books, even at night.
But then we had to figure out how to change the batteries for the lights. When the solar panel was on the lamp, it could be easily removed by twisting it. To solve this, we decided to glue that part of the panel onto the library. This way, we can twist and detach the solar panel whenever we need to replace the batteries. Despite the challenges, we managed to work through them with some experimentation, and our library turned out great.
⮚ Here's how we did it:
1. Our approach was to use electronic hardware solutions (rather than software solutions). We decided to solder solar lights along with LED lights and Jitter bugs to make reading more exciting for kids.
2. Our school teacher provided us with soldering equipment, which included:
✔ Soldering iron: a tool that heats up and melts the solder.
✔ Soldering station: a device that controls the temperature of the soldering iron.
✔ Iron tip: the part of the soldering iron that touches the solder and components.
✔ Solder: a metal alloy that joins the components.
✔ Practice sheet.
3. The kids who knew how to solder explained the process to the rest of us, and we all practiced on the metal sheet until we felt comfortable soldering. Then, we followed the instructions in the LED kit to connect electronic hardware (resistors, capacitors, LEDS) by soldering.
4. We used super glue to attach the assembled LED components to the library. When we tested them, the LED lights lit up, and it was really fun.
5. Next, we moved on to connecting the solar lights. We marked the spots for the holes and used a drill to make the holes. Then, we secured the solar lights in place with bolts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6asfZsdjYAo
⮚ Mobile STEM Library for a Gila River Native Community:
We have established the first STEM Little Free STEM Libraries in the following location:
SAINT PETERS INDIAN MISSION SCHOOL, Bapchule, Arizona 85121
This library will be situated by students at Saint Peters Indian Mission School, which is located approximately 15 miles from downtown Chandler. It's situated in a rural area with a population of around 2000 residents. The Saint Peters Indian Mission School primarily serves Native American students from kindergarten to 8th grade. Given its remote location, access to educational resources can be challenging, making these libraries an important addition to support education in the community.
Both libraries aim to promote reading and provide access to STEM books, particularly benefiting students and residents who may not have had easy access to such resources in the past. Education is a cornerstone of community development, and these libraries will play a vital role in fostering a love for learning among the residents.
⮚ Future Plans:
With the goal of enhancing the library further, the student team plans to take a survey of the usage and improve community engagement through posters, and interactive hardware and software. Collaboration with local schools to provide books & activity kits to children who may have limited access to them is also in the works. The team envisions fostering a love for reading and STEM through partnerships with organizations like boys and girls clubs and girl scouts. This approach will not only inspire enthusiasm for science and technology but also promote a culture of continuous learning.
Conclusion
The Little Free STEM library with STEM resources project represents an exemplary initiative driven by student collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. By providing access to STEM-related books and educational materials, the project not only enriches the community but also serves as a beacon of educational empowerment and positive change. It showcases the potential of youth-led initiatives in education and underscores the importance of nurturing a love for learning and protecting the environment using sustainable energy and technology.
Comments