Technology–personal and otherwise–that’s changing our future.
- S.T.E.A.M. and Spectacle November 18, 2024
(Rendering courtesy of Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, and used with permission.) Burbank Tournament of Roses Association is preparing a show.
It’s going to weigh upwards of nine tons, travel 5.5 miles, and incorporate fire and water elements into the spectacle.
Of course, the “show” is their upcoming Rose Parade® float.
Called, “Having A-Lava Fun”, the float incorporates animation, special effects and a lot of imagination.
Nonprofit Burbank Tournament of Roses Association is a “self-built”–one of the six independent, noncommercial floatbuilders creating floats which they’ll drive in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade on New Year’s Day.
A tradition of excellence
According to their website, Burbank Tournament of Roses Association have been participating in the parade since 1914! In those 110 years, they’ve garnered numerous awards. These include the Mayor Award, this past January, for “Most Outstanding Entry From a Participating City”, for their 2024 entry, “Caterpillar Melody”.
And, quick note–even as they prepare for the 2025 parade, coming up on New Year’s Day, Burbank ToR are thinking a year ahead! Their 2026 Design Contest is currently in progress. Submissions will be accepted from now through 8 pm on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Here’s a link for more information!
Your chance to get involved
While the show happens on New Year’s Day, Burbank Tournament of Roses Association works year-round on their incredible floats. And they welcome volunteers–especially those who can work with them throughout the year. (Here’s where to find out more.)
Steve Edward is Burbank ToR’s Vice President-Float, and Bob Hutt is their Vice-President Administration. In this episode of Over Coffee®, we explore the ways S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math) elements work together in creating their award-winning floats.
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- How Bob and Steve first became involved in building Rose Parade® floats;
- Some of the challenges of building their 2025 float, through the lens of S.T.E.A.M.;
- Some of the weight considerations on the float;
- And, some of the technological considerations
- A lesson in engineering!
- A preview of the special effects New Year’s Day audiences will see, from “Having A-Lava Fun”;
- The story of the float design;
- One of the creative lessons Bob and Steve each learned from constructing their award-winning 2024 float, “Caterpillar Melody”, which has stood them in good stead for creating “Having A-Lava Fun”;
- Some of the math involved in float construction;
- How you can support Burbank Tournament of Roses as they work independently to create their spectacular floats.
Continue reading → - AI As a Creativity Enhancer November 13, 2024
Over Coffee® is on hiatus this week. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2024.
“Right now, I feel we’re exploring a new frontier phase of AI and the arts,” says Jeannine Flores.
In her role as Arts and STEAM Coordinator in Los Angeles County Office of Education‘s Center for Distance and Online Learning, Jeannine draws on her background in music and performing arts, as well as her 19 years teaching school in Orange County.
And she considers artificial intelligence–when used ethically–a great tool for sparking creative ideas.
For anyone who fears having AI replace artists’ creative input, her message is highly encouraging.
“The thing that’s missing (in AI-generated content) is the human component,” she says. “That human connection to art, to music, to dance…whichever art form we’re looking at. We still need to have that human element.”
In this interview recorded in Spring, 2024, Jeannine offered a closer look at some of the ways educators and creatives can use AI ethically–and effectively!–during the creative process.
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- How Jeannine, as an artist and educator, first began exploring STEAM;
- How she incorporated literacy into her music classes;
- Some of the ways Jeannine sees, of incorporating artificial intelligence into arts instruction;
- A closer look at some of the risks of AI;
- Several of Jeannine’s favorite arts-related resources;
- An example of how artificial intelligence might be used in the classroom;
- An exploration of the ethics involved in using a creative project generated with AI;
- Future career skills and the application of artificial intelligence to the arts;
- One of Jeannine’s favorite ways in which AI has inspired her;
- How she’d like to use artificial intelligence for student work in the future;
- How best to support AI in education.
- “Dino-Ween” Promises a “Roaring” Good Time October 20, 2024
“Dino-Ween is such a blast,” says Las Vegas Natural History Museum Director of Education Grace Njoroge.
Throughout the year. Grace designs STEAM-oriented educational programming for the museum–captivating young visitors and introducing them to natural-science concepts, the humanities and history, even as they’re having fun.
Halloween, especially, spotlights this imaginative programming, through the museum’s annual “Dino-Ween” celebration.
Games, hands-on maker activities, costumes, candy and, most of all, fun learning activities, characterize the day.
This year’s “Dino-Ween” happens next Friday, October 25th, from 10 am to 3 pm. Guests are encouraged to come in costume, and children in costume, ages 3 to 11, receive free admission. Here’s the link for more information.
And once Friday is over, the fun–and the education-continue.
LVNHM’s additional programs include regular shark feeding presentations, “Creepy Crawlies” workshops on millipedes on October 27th and the upcoming “A December to Remember” program, spotlighting holiday traditions from around the world,
Grace offered a preview of “Dino-Ween” 2024, explained what guests will see in some of the museum’s exhibits and gave us a look ahead at an exciting special event happening in 2025.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum hosts “Dino-Ween” next Friday, October 25th, from 10 am to 3 pm, and you’re invited! Kids in costume, ages 3-11, get free admission, and “big kids” are encouraged to come in costume as well. Here’s the link for information.
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- One of Grace’s favorite ways the museum is combining art, science and storytelling with some very fun technology for “Dino-Ween”;
- A look back at the Museum’s use of virtual reality for last year’s Halloween event;
- A closer look at the “critters” behind this year’s theme, “Creepy Crawly Carnival”;
- Some of the educational programs planned around the “creepy crawlies”;
- An imaginary “walk” through this year’s “Dino-Ween” event;
- What the pumpkins will be doing!:
- One surprise visitors experienced, during “Dino-Ween” 2023;
- What guests this year will get to explore, in the museum’s paleontology lab;
- The museum’s “Treasures of Egypt” exhibit, and what guests will learn and get to do;
- What October 25th will be like, for Grace and her team;
- What’s going to be happening with the museum’s dinosaurs!
- Some of the “messy science” projects which young visitors will get to do, outside!
- One of Grace’s absolute best experiences, designing programs as the new Director of Education over the past year;
- And, one of her favorite moments, with a cultural event that incorporated art, science and the humanities;
- One of the best lessons which Grace herself learned, as an educator who continues to grow and learn within the community.
- A closer look at a local cultural group and the activities they brought to the museum;
- Why “Dino-Ween” is fun-scary, as opposed to terrifying (there won’t be any “creepy crawlies” on the loose!);
- How to support the museum in their programming, and where to find upcoming events;
- A preview of an exciting cultural event scheduled for 2025 at the museum (artists, take note!)
Continue reading →