Melrose Center Team

First Lego League is an exciting yearly science and technology event for children aged 9-14 years and their families.  In September of each year, First Lego League announces a new challenge.  The challenge is composed of three parts.  The Robotics part is where students build and program an autonomous Lego Mindstorms™ Robot.  The robot has two and a half minutes to perform a series of activities within the challenge.  In the Project portion of the challenge, students show their knowledge of the science behind the challenge.  Throughout the challenge, students are guided by Core Values, which include, Gracious Professionalism™ and Cooperation. A TIC staff member was fortunate to see this up front and was amazed by the whole challenge.

The Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity would like to host a First Lego League team and events. Are there any other robotic events you can share with us? Stay tuned for future developments as our center soon begins the design phase.  In the meantime, enjoy this First Lego League video.

And speaking of Lego, come to the Orlando Public Library on Saturday, December 1 and take part in our Lego Contest.  Registration is required to enter.  Call 407.835.7323 to sign up.  Registration closes at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 30th.

Small business owners and crafters know that a good product photograph can speak a thousand words on eBay and Etsy websites.  Food and craft bloggers also depend on great photographs to sell their creative endeavors.  The best product photographs combine an optimum alignment of lighting, style, color and appropriate sharpening.  Did you know that The Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity will have a film and photo studio and software for film makers and photographers to experiment and perfect their techniques?  And do you know that we currently have classes in WordPress, eBay Basics, and Etsy Basics?  Got your Orange County resident library card?  Then sign up now, because these classes are free to you!

And while you’re waiting for our center to open, enjoy this macaroni and cheese recipe by Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.  Ms. Drummond began a food and lifestyle blog, which now attracts over 20 million page views per month.  She is also a cook book author and has her own Food Network TV show.

We visited a few public schools in the downtown area and were impressed with the use of mobile devices in the classroom.  From elementary to high schools, students are using Netbooks, iPads, cell phones, iPods, e-readers and even PDAs for mobile learning. Educators are beginning to experiment with incorporating them more into the curriculum.  Students are using apps in the classroom to check math calculations, verify foreign language translation and pronunciation and build vocabulary through electronic flash cards.  Take a look at this short video as educators discuss the future uses of mobile devices in the classroom.  Share your thoughts with us about this new trend.

Remember to also check back to this blog for future happenings in the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects (STEM) have become a frequent discussion topic in education and in the media. According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, the U.S. will only be able to fill about 50% of the projected 1.5 million new STEM jobs that will be created over the next decade. School systems, museums and libraries throughout the US are looking at ways to promote STEM learning. As part of our new technology center, we are also looking into ways to stimulate, engage and educate students with fun, interactive activities while promoting the importance of STEM education.

Watch this blog for further information about upcoming attractions at the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity.