Research and Development

Activities

• Playful Invention and Exploration
  

  PIE (Playful Invention and Exploration) is an approach to using new technologies that integrates art, science, music, and engineering. The main goal of PIE is to enable and inspire more people to create, invent, and explore -- using a combination of traditional craft materials and new digital technologies. PIE projects and workshops make use of Crickets, small programmable devices you can use to create your own musical sculptures, interactive jewelry, communicating creatures, and other playful inventions.

• Science Buzz
  We're trying to create exhibits and web content that offer opportunities to dig deeper into science headlines, and give you a chance to talk with each other and with scientists about your questions and concerns.
  What's next? How about an exhibit about cloning? Or West Nile virus? Or the search for life on other planets? Or invasive flying carp? We're just getting started working on the next topics. If you have an idea you'd like to share, become a part of the Current Science community via this website and let us know what you're thinking!

• The Game Studio

  The goal of the Game Studio web site is to provide a common location for anyone to find help, tips, ideas, tutorials, and forums about Microworlds, Scratch, and Flash. The site is focused on, but not limited to, these three programs.

  In Learning Technologies we teach classes using these programs. Students are exposed to software that is capable of producing media-rich interactive gaming experiences. With this site we are focused on the technical aspects of the programs as well as the more over-arching topic of game-making.

Tools

We use a number of information technologies tools - computer programs and environments, digital and analog electronics in concert with art and craft materials. These tools are intended to provide youth and adults the means to explore ideas and realize those in the physical ( and virtual) world.