Outreach
Meeting with David Robert
I got to visit Boston Dynamics in 6th grade and learned some amazing fun facts about robots. I got to show David Robert my notebook about Spot and other BD bots that I learned from their YouTube channel. He quizzed me about the names of some of the robots on display and I think I got all of them right!
David’s main advice was that the best way to learn about robotics was to “make it, break it, fix it”. I also read about the UMC framework recently (Use, Modify, Create) and it hits similar. I have used the Hack Packs by Mark Rober and tried the Use & Modify pieces, but I haven’t yet created a robot on my own based on an original idea. I will take David’s advice and continue to explore new ideas! I have a small journal where I note ideas. Maybe one of them would make a nice new bot.
Meeting with Mitch Resnick
I got to attend MIT AI Summit with my family in 6th grade and briefly met Dr. Mitch Resnick. I asked him what he was like when he was in middle school, and if there was anything interesting he did back then that helped him later in his life as a researcher?
Mitch shared that while he did think schoolwork has value, he appreciated the things he learned outside the school. He encouraged me to continue exploring diverse interests outside what’s required by school, because those additional activities will offer a more unique learning experience.
I enjoyed using Scratch when I was younger, and can’t wait to try OctoStudio when I get a phone. I joined our afterschool coding program, subscribed to Mark Rober’s hack pack, and planning to spend the summer working on two funny zines.
TASP 2021 - Toy Demo
Demonstrated how to play a 3d fraction puzzle at The Association for the Study of Play conference in Harrisonburg VA. Sketches turned to 3d printed toy with help of my parents.
Fablearn Conference 2020 - Student Showcase
MixBots are made up of different shapes of cardboard cutouts connected with plastic clips (Box-lox). They can be connected in different ways and transform into different structures like spaceships, creatures, cars,
