The Solar Roller: A Mobile Makerspace

What is the Solar Trailer?

In a series of workshops-engineers, students, faculty, and tribal members collaboratively built a mobile solar trailer.

The solar trailer powered the lights for the grand entry of the 2019 United Tribes International Pow-Wow

When the pow-wow moved indoors due to inclement weather, visitors could charge their devices from the stored solar power.

UTTC students, staff, faculty, and community members partnered to co-design and transform the interior of the solar trailer into a mobile STEAM outreach unit and maker space.

The mobile unit aims to develop problem-solving skills, enhance computer-aided design knowledge, and increase connection to culture.

The trailer and materials can travel to community centers, schools, and community events in Bismarck-Mandan and tribal communities in the Dakotas.

What does the solar trailer have available for communities and schools?

Tents, tables, and benches for a pop up mobile outdoor classroom
Cell phone charging tables
Laser cutter on mobile cart
Miscellaneous making supplies -In partnership with UTTC Engineering Department DOE funded ASPIRE program
STEM Activities aligned to STEM Pathways at UTTC
STEM Activities aligned with ND Native American Essential Understandings
Rotating activities in partnership with ND Gateway to Science and Science in the Summer Program (Stay Tuned for 2023 theme)
Keva Planks for engineering design challenges
Ozobots to introduce coding to all ages
Spheros for more advanced coding challenges
Carts to easily transport materials
Laptop cart with six laptops
Stay tuned for details about the solar capacity and how it might be used for off grid community events

How can communities or schools use the trailer or materials in the trailer?

Email our outreach coordinator Kate, at kknoll@uttc.edu to discuss availability. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ozobots: Intro to Coding

Keva Planks: Structural Engineering Challenges

Medicinal Plant Coloring Sheets

Tricky Tracks

Indigenous Boats Engineering Challenge

Seasonal Plant Walk: Blending Science and Art

Batwomen and the Dark Night

What are Makerspaces?

Makerspaces inspire innovation and problem solving while exploring and learning about science, technology, engineering, arts, and/or mathematics. Check out two inspiring examples of mobile STEAM makerspaces below!

Kwul 'I'tkin Maker Truck

The Kwul 'I'tkin Maker Truck is a mobile, cultural makerspace co-created by spectrUM, CSK Tribal Education, SciNation, and tribal elders on the Flathead Reservation. Equipped with both high- and low-tech tools and supplies, the maker truck travels to schools and community events across the reservation to engage K-12 students with hands-on STEM activities that weave together cultural and conventional forms of making.

Spark Truck

The SparkTruck is an educational build-mobile! In the summers of 2012 and 2013, they drove across the country, spreading the fun of hands-on learning and encouraging kids to find their inner maker.

Watch the short documentary for a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles, discoveries, and achievements of the team as they share their passion for hands-on learning.

Why incorporate making into STEM learning?

STEM Teaching Tool: How can Making promote equity and excitement in STEM?

Follow Along!

Additional media and updates will be added as we progress. We welcome feedback and ideas to improve the trailer! Contact kknoll@uttc.edu

Fall 2022

Welcome back to school! We hosted two back to school bashes: one in partnership with BPS Indigenous Education and one with UTTC health promotions. UTTC students traveled with the solar trailer and laser cutter to engage families in STEM activities highlighting different STEM pathways offered at UTTC. Participants were able to customize a free keychain using the laser cutter and use the maker supplies to design a way to creatively attach their keychain. Students also tried out structural engineering challenges with the keva blanks, learned basic coding with ozobots, and colored culturally important medicinal plants.

Summer 2022

With the Covid 19 pandemic slowly receding, we continued local outreach throughout Bismarck-Mandan and traveled to New Town. Elementary Education student Amanda Pond (Oglala Lakota) co-planned and led numerous STEM events reaching nearly 1,000 participants. Visit the Science in The Summer website to try some of the activities at home! http://scienceinthesummer.fi.edu/be-a-biologist

We partnered for another summer of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) camps with North Dakota’s Gateway to Science. For all June camps, and two August camps, Elementary aged campers spent one day a week at UTTC using our fantastic indoor and outdoor STEM facilities and learning from UTTC STEM students, faculty, and staff. During the July computer science and technology camp, middle school campers visited campus one afternoon to learn about our heavy equipment, computer information technology, and engineering programs. In addition, UTTC environmental science and research faculty and students brought activities to the August 1st-5th camp at Ducks Unlimited.

We also partnered with the UTTC ASPIRE engineering camps for summer '22. Campers from North and South Dakota, ages 13-15 and 16-18 learned the basics of coding, engaged in structural engineering with tipis; and used 3D printers and laser cutters. A great group of kids and two great weeks of learning!

Spring 2022

Prototyping is a strategy used by engineers when designing creative solutions to problems. We have been practicing prototyping with the laser and brainstorming some ways we can blend traditional arts, engineering, and computer design processes.

Design

Test

Re-design and Re-test

Fall 2021 Events

Summer 2021

With the Covid 19 pandemic still impacting communities, we postponed travel and stayed local. Elementary Education Kaitlyn Enno (Turtle Mountain) and Alumni Kimberlee Blevins led engineering outreach throughout Bismarck Mandan. Visit the website to try the activities at home! http://scienceinthesummer.fi.edu/be-an-engineer

Science in the Summer Locations

Current Interior Designs

In Fall, 2020 STEM Outreach Leader Taylor Brugh with input from Marlin Chase and community members helped design storage and desk space for the trailer. She used Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create the plan and worked with Rockstar Woodcraft to bring the plans to life in Spring 2020.

Trailer Designs and Supply List

Conference Poster Session-April 2021

Taylor Brugh and Marlin Chase presented their work at the TIE Conference. In their virtual poster session, they highlighted the creation of and future plans for the STEM Outreach solar trailer. They shared pictures and descriptions of the interior shelving layout, that was designed by Taylor Brugh using an engineering software.

One activity they developed and presented is an engineering design challenge that uses straws with 3D printed connectors to make strong and stable structures. Participants use trial and error to build and learn the history of Indigenous structures and make connections to Native identity. Check out our STEM at Home Tab for more info and pictures of this activity that will travel with the solar trailer.

First Laser Engraving! 1/29/21

Outreach Leaders and Pre-engineering students Taylor and Marlin

Garden Post Prototype 2/10/21

Laser Cutter Unboxing 2021

UTTC community outreach is supported by NSF TCUP Grants 1953864 and 1839895 with additional support from Crestwood, Inc.