I’m dyslexic. It’s something that has challenged me throughout my life. In elementary school I was almost held back twice. It was only thanks to the efforts of my mother working with me during summer vacations that I was able to keep up. So when my son, who is now 6, started to exhibit what his school at the time determined were “focus” issues they wanted to test him, to label him and then suggested that we should consider medication. Feeling as if the cycle would repeat itself, my wife and I decided to pull him out of that school and place him in a Montessori program. The results have been amazing as he’s taken to the discovery-based approach, which allows him to learn at his own pace. The methods are very much in line with 21st century skills.
Inspired, I decided to create an educational initiative that brings an experiential learning approach to parents and students, no matter if they can afford a Montessori program or not. Three years ago my team and myself at Connected Sparks began an educational adventure of our own. We formed a startup whose sole focus is to create toys and stories with passion and purpose. Our first effort is entitled Lyka’s Adventure and it centers on a small robot scientist from another planet with a big heart. She travels to Earth in an effort to save her home, which has been decimated by climate change. Along the way she is aided by students ages 5 to 10 who use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) based on activities that are intended to build strong 21st Century skills. These skills focus on empathy, listening, how to shape questions, rapid prototyping and physical computing. At Connected Sparks we aim to provide parents, teachers and schools with storyworlds that challenge children in a way that inspires and ignites their imaginations and creativity. Our approach is rooted in amazing storytelling, strong characters, and innovative uses of emerging and established technology along with a healthy dose of play and design thinking.
Lyka needs your help! Help Lyka to get into the hands of children worldwide!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lyka-s-adventure-a-robot-scientist-with-a-big-heart-is-rebooting-education/x/4275966#home
- LANCE WEILER (co-founder Connected Sparks)
Source: indiegogo.com
Adorable plush robot is rebooting education
Help Lyka get in the hands of children worldwide: bit.ly/welovelyka
Lyka’s Adventure is a plush toy, 8 book series published by Penguin Books, educational app and series of educational events for students!
