The attending kids at KidsCamp Orlando, Florida (16) ages 7 to 12 participated in projects that required completing individual and group projects based on the theme of “Space.” Incorporating design thinking, creative thought process and critical thinking. A personal spaceship as an individual project and group project designing a space station with mission requirements that would have impressed NASA.
The criteria ranged in creating a name for the spaceship, a mission, a diverse crew that represented the community and how they could work together to solve problems that are issues on earth. The kids were provided the honor of being called “Captains” and their parents the “First Officers” or “Number Ones,” terms used in Star Trek and other space movies to work within the theme of “Space.”
The parents, in positions of support and guidance while the kids were designated having the ultimate responsibility of leadership roles. The “Captains” were engaged in working together as teams to encourage collaboration, team work and using critical and higher order thinking. Once the projects were completed they were presented by the kids and questions were encouraged from the audience.
Additional projects were a Scavenger Hunt and the final project was designing a web site on the WordPress.com platform and posted online for the world to see with their parents supervision.
WordCamp conferences are changing the way web development is seen by children, it is not just for adults, encouraging youth, teens and young adults to participate and embrace the excitement and learning of digital web design, HTML Coding and gaining tech skills that will lead to potential employment and business opportunities.
William Jackson, Speaker and Blogger
The next WordCamp is WordCamp Jacksonville 2019 where there will be a WordCamp for adults and a KidsCamp for youth, teens and young adults lead by William Jackson and Aida Correa as Organizers. The theme embraces the
“Beach.”
Having businesses connected to STEAM; Ms. Correa (LoveBuilt Life LLC) a designer, artist and writer has spoken at national venues focusing on child development and welfare and spoken at WordCamp conferences in 2018. Mr. Jackson is a national and international blogger over 15 years and educator with Duval County Public Schools over 30 years of service. He has spoken at WordCamp conferences since 2017 nationally and internationally. They are changing the way tech conferences are managed to promote participation by youth to be involved in areas they enjoy with tech embracing creativity and
innovation.
More information to register kids and youth for WordCamp Jacksonville 2019 can be found at https://2019.jacksonville.wordcamp.org/ for Saturday, June 30th 2019. Register early. Parents must accompany their children during the KidsCamp but can switch with another adult if both parents or guardians are attending WordCamp.
STEAM will again be integrated into the creative and learning process that engages and excites youth to learn and be active and contributing to the learning environment. Learning is important, but having fun is key also, KidsCamp is a great opportunity for parents and their children to collaborate, cooperate and share. Global WordCamp Conferences
https://central.wordcamp.org/
WordCamp Jacksonville, Florida 2019
https://2018.jacksonville.wordcamp.org/
KidsCamp Orlando 2018
William is the digital innovator for his brand My Quest To Teach using the hashtag #MyQuestToTeach sharing his journey teaching, mentoring,
community activism and community collaborations.