Young Innovators Club

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Young Innovators Club is a library program that includes 3D Design, 3D Printing, Coding, and electronics projects and activities for school age children. The goal of the program is to create an environment where children realize they can learn to do anything they want despite their circumstances. These activities exemplify the core principles of STEM programming; ‘making’ refers to the active role construction plays in learning, while ‘tinkering’ is a mindset – a playful way to approach and solve problems through direct experience, experimentation and discovery. One of the primary objectives of Young Innovators Club is to promote innovation. While training and workshops are extremely important in increasing the expertise in new technologies; Guadalupe Branch Library is establishing a long-term working club of young innovators. Identifying youth in Guadalupe, Arizona interested in innovation and entrepreneurship and providing them with a place to meet and share their interests is one of the most important contributions for the community. Sessions are structured using the peer-coaching model, this technique allows the team to build collaboration, acts as a problem-solving medium, and reduces isolation among participants. Young Innovators Club provides children access to the inspiring learning experiences they deserve in science, technology, engineering and math subjects. Children work with mentors from tech companies in afternoon "apprenticeship" classes to build critical academic skills and career aspirations as they are introduced to new technologies in a fun environment. This program effectively reflects the Library District’s value of innovation, as we embrace technology change and encourage creativity and adaptability. In addition, teamwork and collaboration was essential.