Teaching Kids

I presented the idea of powered kids at BarCamp Charlotte 6. People liked it enough that I did a duplicate session in the afternoon, since the first conflicted with the hackerspace presentation- which would have targeted the same kinds of people.

Now, a good while later, these things have moved along- i'm an active member of hackerspace, albeit about 8 months behind on dues (i know, i'm a slacker...), and i've had several brainstorming sessions with various people about how to train kids. I used to think it was the junior high school kids, but am now thinking it starts even before that.

So without killing too much time writing this post, here's some stuff:

The facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/poweredkids/
Can't remember the twitter group...
google group: http://groups.google.com/group/poweredkids?pli=1

i must have gotten a domain too... but i don't think there's anything there.

Building the village

*Bits and pieces from some recent exchanges about possibilities for a

village in haiti.*

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Papercrete blocks: produce 42 blocks per 90 pound bag of Portland cement.


I'd mentioned the style of north african architecture that allows you to
build roofs without material (xxx said the lack of material was a key
issue in completing housing). Bricks can be made of mud or concrete/pumice.

**

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Here's a unique one that incorporates and earth/green roof - long but lots
of details (mexico):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrMbt_z14VM&feature=related****

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Here's a different example (Bulgaria):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsBfeL3vlGI****

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This could all be done with papercrete, which could be built on site for
far less than concrete blocks, using recycled material - these blocks are
easier to handle and cheaper to produce than straight concrete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoLBeV6tzJ4&feature=related****

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While the arch/dome/mudbrick concepts are ancient, in recent times the
Egyptian archtect Hassan Fathy has pioneered it's rejuvination, including
at the community where I grew up in New Mexico. He's passed away, but his
legacy seems to be slowly spreading around the world- since dirt is the
ultimately available building block, and his buildings of dirt are amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRJFrmbeYJw****

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I truly believe that combining papercrete bricks with vault/arch/dome
building and a locally-trained labor market could lead to amazing
beautiful, safe, lightweight structures, with virtually no expensive

manufactured building materials.****

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I would like to iterate that I am very interested in this project, and will
help in any way that I can. I see so much opportunity there, and Haiti is
really very much in our own back yard.

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I would also welcome any opportunity to visit, esp. if it could take place

over christmas break (when school is out for us). ****

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--
D.I. von Briesen
The Creator is Greater