About MyMachine
A brief introduction to the world of MyMachine
Oskar is an eight year old boy with a mission: to build a machine to find and dig up treasures in his garden. Because, so he wonders, what if an ancient Roman treasure is hidden under the grass? Just think about it, what if he and his family moved away and they hadn't searched for the treasure? What if another family moved in who immediately would find the treasure? Wouldn’t that be awful?
So Oskar invented a “Look-For-Treasures-And-Dig-Them-Up-Machine”. He thought about what the machine should be able to do, and made a beautiful drawing showing how it would look like. He even wrote a user manual. And now he wants his machine to be built as well. But how? His father is all thumbs (at least that’s what his mother always says…). So what can he do?
This is how MyMachine got started, basically written down on a beer-card in a bar. How to engage children to think out-of-the-box by inventing their own ‘Dream Machine’? And how to have those machines also designed and even built?
MyMachine offers a solution for Oskar and other inventive children with similar great but never realized ideas. We will build it. Simply because MyMachine takes those children and their ideas very serious. Simply because they matter.
MyMachine - a simple plan
The MyMachine-methodology (created and owned by MyMachine) is very simple and consists of 3 steps:
STEP 1. Children from primary schools (in Belgium aged 6 to 12 years) invent and present (Via drawings, models, manuals, …) their own ‘Dream Machine’. Anything goes: from a machine that helps you to put peanut butter on a sandwich to a machine that cleans your room. The main criterium is that it’s relevant for the child who really, really wants it. We call this the IDEA-phase.
STEP 2. In a next phase higher education students (f.e. product design students) propose one or more solutions to design those machines. The best solutions – according to the children – then are selected and further developed. We call this the DESIGN- or CONCEPT-phase
STEP 3. Finally, the technical drawings/designs and working concepts are handed over to Secondary Tech Schools (for pupils aged 12-18 years). They build real prototypes of those machines, assisted by the kids who invented them (IDEA) and the high school students who designed them (DESIGN). This final phase is the MACHINE-phase.
Throughout this whole process the children, pupils and students can use the expertise and support of a wide range of local corporations and organizations who share a common view on creativity and innovation. Thanks to their support, MyMachine is able to build these cool machines!
Timeline
One MyMachine-run is equal to 1 academic year (cfr. In Belgium from September 1 to June 30):
Step 1 (Idea Generation): September – October (1 to 4 weeks)
Step 2 (Design & Concept): November – December (4 to 6 weeks)
Step 3 (Production & Realization): February – May (8 to 12 weeks)
Every MyMachine-run ends with an exhibition where all drawings, designs, models and prototypes are shown and tested.
We also produce a catalogue per MyMachine-run. This catalogue shows a wide and diverse selection of the ideas, designs and machines that have been produced that particular year. As all children, students, pupils but also partners and other relevant actors receive a copy, MyMachine is able to strengthen the sense of ownership of all those who are involved.
The ‘Spocker’ – one of many fine examples of kids’ imagination brought to life.
The ‘Spocker‘ (‘spook’ is the Dutch word for ghost) was invented by Matisse. Matisse is six years old and participated in MyMachine 2008-2009.
Matisse dreamt of a machine that chases away the ghosts from under his bed. He did not believe his parents and other adults who assured him that ghosts don’t exist., or worse - that he should stop whining.
The higher ed-students however took it serious. They designed a cute little robot for Matisse that tracks, identifies and ‘erases’ all ghosts from under his bed. The robot even produces a status report that shows to Matisse that his room is ‘ghost-proof’. Secondary Tech students built the robot which is made out of sturdy plastics. They also constructed the electronics (sounds, LED-lights, …).
At the final exhibition, the Spocker was one of the most popular machines because all kids know how it’s like to be scared for ghosts, and they sure do know as well how it feels like to be told by adults to grow up and stop whining.
Who’s behind MyMachine?
MyMachine is a Belgian initiative, originally set up by Howest University, Intercommunale Leiedal (Intermunicipal Association) and Streekfonds West-Vlaanderen (the Community Foundation West Flanders is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation).
This specific partnership between three very different organizations and the commitment of all respective Boards of Directors and partners has made MyMachine possible. This partnership is also strengthened by an unseen combination of educational, governmental and industrial partners.
Creativity in education
MyMachine, as a true bottom-up initiative, was recently triggered by Sir Ken Robinson.
Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. In 1998, he led a national commission on creativity, education and the economy for the UK Government. ‘All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education’ (The Robinson Report) was published to wide acclaim in 1999. For twelve years, he was Professor of Education at the University of Warwick in the UK and is now Professor Emeritus. He speaks to audiences throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies.
Ken Robinson’s TED-talk on creativity in education (‘We are educated out of creativity’) has been a major inspiration to start MyMachine initially. Today, Sir Ken Robinson is promoting ‘MyMachine’ as an extraordinary example of implementing and promoting creativity in education.
This unveils one of many challenges for MyMachine; despite the simple concept, it requires a lot of flexibility of all (educational) partners involved.
Awards
The very simple concept (the ideal ‘elevator-pitch’ according to a communication specialist) and the huge interest of regional and national media attracted a lot of attention to MyMachine. This resulted in several non-sollicitated awards and other forms of recognition:
- World Summit Award 2009 as best project worldwide using E-content and E-tools to promote creativity in Education – United Nations (UNGAID) – Monterrey (MEX).
- Design Management Europe Award 2009 for ‘Best Intelligent en Innovative Project- and Management Design’ in the category not-for-profit - Europe Design Centre (EDC) – Eindhoven (NL).
- ‘Bridge Project Education-Economy’ 2008 en 2010 bridging the worlds of Education and Corporations – Flemish Government – Brussels (B).
- Award for the most entrepreneurial University 2009 for Howest University for it’s participation in MyMachine – Flemish Union of Independent Entrepreneurs (Unizo) – Brussels (B).
- Best Educational Project 2008 and 2009 – Chamber of Commerce West Flanders (VOKA West-Vlaanderen) – Bruges (B).
Contact & Information
MyMachine vzw
p/a President Kennedypark 10 | 8500 Kortrijk (Belgium)
W www.mymachine.be | E info@mymachine.be
Useful links
MyMachine World Summit Award 2009 Presentation
MyMachine Design Management Europe 2009 – Award winning Concept
MyMachine Indigo/Brainmedia Presentation