SteamHead is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the presence of design within education.[1] Claiming inspiration from the Maker movement and S.T.E.A.M. education, SteamHead initiatives aim to help communities increase their capacity to "make". SteamHead activities are often supported by sponsors such as the British Council,[2] local charities, and schools. The organization supports several local events, including MakeFashion Edu[3] and School Maker Faires.
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Founded in 2014 as "the Make Club"[4] within an apartment, the organization now operates from offices in the United States and a makerspace in Shenzhen, China. SteamHead is now situated in a public space and facilitates meetings for the Shenzhen Maker Ed community.
Description
Steam Head offers free space for the education community[5] to exchange information, collaborate, and share. Cross-sections of teachers, students, parents, and educational industry professionals meet hackers, artists, DIY enthusiasts, and educational innovators.[6]
The main area of Steam Head's facility features communal work tables suitable for accommodating approximately twelve individuals, making it ideal for group activities. Towards the rear section of the premises, visitors can find various specialized rooms, including a 3D printing area, a media recording studio, a tinkering kitchen, storage facilities, an outdoor balcony, and accommodation quarters for residents.
Equipped with an array of tools and resources typically found in primary school classrooms, Steam Head's facility offers craft supplies such as scissors, saws, screwdrivers, and measuring tapes, as well as an electronics workbench, a screen printing setup, power saws, drills, cutters, projectors, and printers. Members also have access to additional equipment, such as 3D printers and a large-scale drawing machine.
The core team, composed of volunteers, convenes monthly to address various space-related matters, including renovation initiatives and equipment procurement. Additionally, the facility hosts several special interest groups that convene more frequently and often spontaneously. Steam Head operates daily, typically providing 24-hour access to its premises. Regular members may undergo biometric authentication to gain access to the facility.
Located on the second floor of a Shenzhen building constructed in the early 2000s, the space was originally designated for commercial purposes but has since been repurposed, with several areas converted into loft apartments.
Annual Programs
Make Fashion Edu: partnering with the Make Fashion team to bring fashion tech initiatives to K-12 students
Nanshan School Maker Faire: partnering with SAIS, Shenzhen American International School, "giving young makers a platform to express themselves"[7]
STEAM Summer Camp: partnering with Moralture to host an annual summer camp focusing on design thinking and making
Reoccurring Programs
School Volunteers: Steam Head accepts donations and sends volunteers to local migrant schools to bring STEAM education to students and training to teachers
R.ED Resident Educator Program: Education community members are invited to stay in the Shenzhen space for 1 month residencies
After School Classes: Steam Head partners with Moralture to bring workshops to K-8 students
Members of the space also participate in local Maker Faires by running workshops[8] and tours,[9] and also send representatives to maker events around the world including Brazil,[10] the U.K., Germany, and Canada.
History
Steam Head makerspace's founding members Benjamin James Simpson, Carrie Leung, Luke Henderson, and Emma Cheung have established the space as a makerspace for Educational R&D. As one of the first maker education spaces in Shenzhen, China, SteamHead found its roots in 2011, organizing free language lessons for manufacturing workers in China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces.
In 2014 Shenzhen the organization began offering science and technology lessons to migrant children. In 2015, they partnered with Litchee Lab to create educational programs[11] and workshops.[12] By 2017 SteamHead had relocated and started a makerspace in Shenzhen, China.
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