Tom Henihan
Express Staff
@SmokyRiverExprs
McLennan Library Board has approved the acquisition of electronic or robotics kits to offer a new program designed for kids to construct a variety of electronic and remote control devices.
The program will introduce the children to hands-on practical learning, cooperation, and an understanding of concepts that they can ultimately realize into a functioning unit.
The kits the children will use are similar to a toolbox with motors, wheels, lights, switches, etc with the potential of building mechanisms that have coordinated moving parts and the capacity to be remote controlled.
Designed with a collective work environment in mind, the project encourages children to exercise their imagination and fosters collaboration while teaching the practical skills to take a project from conception to a fully realized functioning device.
While these are small-scale projects and fun to do, the skills learned through this process are imminently transferable to a larger, real life project and provide the foundation to coordinate and utilize conceptual and technical skills.
The McLennan Library proposes offering this after-school program in 2 groups; 8 to 12 years old and 13 years old to 18 and hopes to have the program available sometime in February.
Other library programs that have resumed for 2016 are the Adult Colouring Group which meets at 1:15 p.m. every Monday and the Bookworms reading club which meets at the Library the first Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m.
For more information regarding any of these programs, visit the McLennan Municipal Library website or call (780) 324-3767.