Tech 'n' Tinker
Trailer
The Tech ‘n’ Tinker (TNT) Trailer is a mobile classroom that travels to schools, community organizations and public events in the greater Kingston area. Boasting a full range of educational technologies, the TNT trailer provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities that complement the Ontario Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
A visit with the TNT Trailer includes two of our program streams, Robotics and Engineering Design, each are outlined below. These programs run simultaneously, meaning that Connections staff can work with two classes or groups at the same time. A typical booking includes 500 minutes (250 minutes in each program stream) of instruction with two qualified teachers.
DIGITAL LITERACY
Our robotics sessions will introduce students to coding and robotics and their role in engineering. Students will gain hands-on experience with age-appropriate robots and apply areas of knowledge and skills from the Ontario math curriculum.
Students will be introduced to the robot, learn its basic features, and then be presented with a challenge. Students will think like engineers to overcome these challenges while using estimation, measurement, directional language, and basic numeration.
The robots we typically use during our workshops include: LEGO Mindstorm (EV3); Dash; Ozobot; and Bee-Bot.
If you have further questions regarding these workshops, please reach out to our staff at eng.connections@queensu.ca
Engineering Design
(Tech 'n' Tinker Trailer)
Our engineering design workshops will introduce students to the Engineering Design Process (Problem, Plan, Build, Test and Fix). Students will be presented with a design challenge that will highlight a theme from one of the engineering disciplines, and develop a product to overcome that challenge.
Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on engineering design activities. They will be presented with a problem that needs to be solved and follow the Engineering Design process in order to do so. They will think like engineers while using teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills while also applying areas of knowledge and skills from the Ontario science and math curricula.
In our workshops students typically construct a product using basic building materials (cardboard, construction paper, etc.), but also work with technologies like the micro:bit, CoSpaces and Scratch.
If you have further questions regarding these workshops, please reach out to our staff at eng.connections@queensu.ca
PRICING
-
Due to the generosity of our major funder ACTUA, Connections is happy to announce the Tech 'N' Tinker Virtual courses will be offered for FREE!
Frequently asked questions
Due to high demand within our community, Connections cannot guarantee a booking with the Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer on requested dates. To manage demand Connections will be reaching out to interested schools to schedule visits. If you are interested in a visit with the Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer, please send an email with your contact information and the name of your school to eng.connections@queensu.ca
Building the schedule is completely up to you as a school. Connections will visit for an entire school day and provide up to 250 minutes of instruction in both of our programs (250 minutes of instruction in the Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer, and 250 minutes of instruction with our robotics kits in the school).
Our sessions are typically broken down into two 100-minute sessions and one 50-minute session. The 50-minute session should be schedule at the end of the day so that our staff can ensure that they have ample time to leave school property before dismissal.
We ask that schedules are built so that there is at least a 10 minute break between sessions to allow our staff to complete any necessary takedown/set up.
An example schedule can be found below:
Time | Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer | Robotics Workshops |
| 9:10-10:50am | Morse Code with micro:bit– grade 7/8 class | Intro to Dash – grade 4 class |
| 11:20am-1:00pm | Coding Canadarm 2 with Scratch – Grade 6 class | Into to Dash – grade 3 class |
| 1:55-2:45pm | Video Game controllers with MakeyMakey – grade 5 class | Intro to Ozobot – grade 2 class |
You can expect to receive an electronic invoice from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science after our workshops are completed. The invoice can be paid by cheque or credit card.
Yes! The Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer is heated, and can be booked during the Winter months. However, Connections staff reserve the right to cancel or alter bookings due to unsafe or inclement weather.
All bookings scheduled on snow days will be cancelled and rescheduled at the earliest availability.
In most cases, the Tech ‘n’ Tinker Trailer is parked on school property when we visit. We ask that school staff assign a parking spot that can accommodate the 27′ Trailer before we arrive.
Connections will provide all necessary materials and technology. You do not need to have anything prepared unless otherwise specified.
If you have any further questions regarding the Queen’s Summer Engineering Academy, please do not hesitate to Contact Us
