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TechoMagicLand – A territory of the curious minds
Sep 26

TechoMagicLand – A territory of the curious minds

TechnoMagicLand is an interactive center for science and technology in Sofia (Bulgaria), aimed at children aged 7–14. It was conceptualized and built by TechnoLogica, a highly reputable Bulgarian IT company- and one of our SOLIDWORKS resellers- as part of its corporate-social-responsibility project. The center is accommodated and supported by Sofia Tech Park. TechnoMagicLand mission is to make science and technology more accessible and fun. They spark children’s interest in STEM topics by encouraging them to participate in the interactive and easily comprehendible hands-on experiments that comprise the TechnoMagicLand experience. Of course, parents and teachers are encouraged to join the fun, too! Their motto is “I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand” which is repeated through the visitor’s experience.

At the core of the Center, is the Exhibition Hall where 46 hands-on exhibits are displayed from the fields of Maths, Physics, IT, Engineering, and the technologies of the present and the future. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Exhibition at their own pace. All exhibits are controlled and maintained remotely through a centralized network. They use RFID bands to track visitors’ engagement with the experiments and gather statistical data that allows them to measure their progress and satisfaction. This enables the implementation of different routes that introduce elements of gamification and competition in the visitors’ experience, as well as a more personalized experience based on the visitor’s age, background and/or interests.

Engineering for Kids

 

Right next to the Exhibition space is the Science Theater, where visitors are welcome to attend the regular demonstrations and science shows presented by skilled science communicators. They boast two multipurpose laboratories that are fully equipped for training and workshops in various topics such as Chemistry, Physics, AI, Game Design, and Tinkering lab, to name a few. These courses build upon the demonstrations and the experiments and allow children to deepen their knowledge, develop practical skills and improve their creativity.

Engineering for Kids

Among all the activities that are proposed, there is the Engineering for Kids training course. It shows the main stages of Engineering work in a fun and interactive way. Since life in the 21st Century is unimaginable without engineers, the kids use scientific research to build high-tech gadgets and develop new advanced technologies. Unfortunately, many children have limited access to hands-on learning outside the school curriculum. In this course, children build a conception and functional structure, create a design, and run a simulation to verify and materialize functional prototypes. Sometimes, instead of the usual FDM materials for the prototypes, children use real chocolate.

Using the right software tools is of great importance to the training course. That is the reason why they chose and mastered SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids. This solution offers a wide variety of capabilities and functionalities when introducing the basics of 3D design.

When the kids become inventors

Our curious and practical interpretation of SOLIDWORKS Apps for Kids here is graphically shown with the possibilities of development in the engineering field and supporting children’s interest in technique and the creation of three-dimensional models. Every child can become an inventor and turn their ideas into real projects by learning basic concepts of graphic modeling, geometry, mechanics and kinematics. Participants go through all the steps of creating a specific object – from the idea through the 3D model to the physical realization of a prototype and independently study the exhibits dedicated to STEM.After completing the training, the children acquire basic knowledge and skills for graphic rendering, modeling and 3D printing by working independently with the software. All the children are printing their own designed model on a 3D printer and can see the actual application of Apps for Kids.

Once a year, the TechnoLogica team presents to the Bulgarian teachers and pupils the possibilities of 3D printing and their application in the educational process. Apps for Kids is the real and most friendly example of how 3D technologies could be implemented in Bulgarian classrooms.

 

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