Imagine

The library purchased a MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer earlier this year and our 3D Design and Printing classes have become one of our most popular classes here at the Orlando Public Library.  We love reading stories about innovative uses for a 3D printer and one of our recent favorites is the story of 2 MIT students who designed the Sesame Ring, which can be used in place of a Boston transit card.  Read more about this innovative project and come join us for the next 3D Design and Printing classes at the Orlando Public Library on Saturday, September 7.

The Arduino is an open source microcontroller board and with it you can create some fun electronics projects.  For example, you can use the Arduino with sensors for temperature, motion, light and sound.  In fact, you can even design and build your own robot using a variety of components.   Here at the Orlando Public Library, we are working behind the scenes to bring you some exciting new Arduino style workshops.  Watch this blog for details coming soon!

Here is a sneak preview of an upcoming class series currently in development.   As you can see, library staff is busy building and testing various K’nex™ prototypes.  Our STEM curriculum in 3D Design and Printing with the MakerBot Replicator 2™ and Snap Circuits™ Basic Electronics has proved to be very popular and we wanted to add more STEM opportunities.  Our K’nex™ classes will be a fun opportunity to build and play while learning basic concepts about engineering.

Stay tuned to the blog for further details.  In the meantime, check out our popular 3D Printing and Design and Snap Circuits™ classes.  Spaces fill up quickly in these popular classes, so register early!

In the upcoming weeks, the Orlando Public Library will begin to offer a variety of classes in computer programming and coding.  Code.org, a non-profit foundation dedicated to growing computer programming education estimates that approximately one million of the best jobs may go unfilled because only 1 in 10 schools teach student how to code.  Can you code?

Classes at the Library for adults include Introduction to Computer Programing and Introduction to Mobil Web App Development.  Kids will love the classes in video game creation in 2D and 3D.  And don’t forget, we offer our Access to Free College Courses Online labs for Code Academy and Khan Academy.  Also, check out Treehouse, an interactive e-learning website that teaches computer programming skills. So get onboard and let us help you learn the basics of coding!

Have you heard about Google Glass? Glass is a device that the user wears like regular glasses. However, they are not an ordinary pair of glasses. They allow the user to take photos, videos, ask Google questions and more. Users can also share what they are seeing to others live.

Take a look at this article to learn more about this amazing new technology from Google. Google is running a contest to become a Google Glass Explorer! The lucky explorers selected will get Google Glass early to use and test out. OCLS submitted a tweet for this contest so you never know; we might get to be Google Glass Explorers soon!