Schools
With the Help of IBM Engineers, PC Kids Become Inventors
From mobile trash cans to tricked-out notebooks, Port Chester kids unveil inventions that would make Billy Mays proud.
Ready to tackle the tech-world by creating devices that help make life easier? Port Chester students are already halfway there, thanks to some support from IBM engineers.
The fourth- and fifth-graders from John F. Kennedy Magnet School have been working with local professionals in solving those irritating Monday-morning problems: untied shoelaces, remembering to bring your ruler to math class, keeping track of your house keys.
After six weeks of developing their ideas, the young scientists proudly stood alongside their adult counterparts Wednesday morning.
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The occasion: “Invention Convention,” an in-school celebration where youngsters were able to meet leaders of the field including Senior Vice President of IBM Rand MacDonald and other company bigwigs. IBM also celebrated its 100th birthday this year, so there was a lot to smile about in the school community.
“The kids are really proud of themselves—[they and the] engineers learned a lot from each other,” said science-lab coordinator Mary Ellen Onofrio.
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Youngsters also took home insight on idea-building and hard work. Using MentorPlace, a program which brought together IBM and John F. Kennedy Magnet School in a partnership, each student could contact his or her assigned IBM engineer for questions or feedback.
And given the state of each finished project, it was apparent that picking the brain of a professional proved to be useful.
For example, fifth-grader Michelle Zapata created a recycling bin on wheels out of a motorized truck, remote control and duct tape.
It's an invention for any kid whose chore list includes taking out the garbage.
“My mom always asks me to throw things out for her, so now the bin comes to her instead,” Zapata explained.
And for those who always seem to forget to bring a pen to class, fifth-graders Melissa Torres and Daniela Urrutia have a solution for you: “The Notebook of Needed Stuff.” Whether a ruler, pencil or eraser is needed, this tricked-out notebook has it covered with an adhesive surface.
“We always lose our stuff so we thought we’d make a notebook that people can use and you can paste the thing you need back on after you’re finished using it,” Urrutia said.
Before the day was out, IBM presented a check for $5,000 to the John F. Kennedy Magnet School to build a greenhouse which will encourage Earth-friendly habits.
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