The Opening Ceremony of Maker Space area launched at the Middle East Technical University in cooperation with LEGO Education and its Turkish partner, Teknokta, to introduce science at an early age to children at school age by supporting science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) education with innovation and maker-focused activities; and of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Application and Research Center (BİLTEMM) Laboratory was held at METU Society and Science Application and Research Center (TBM) on Thursday, May 16, 2019.
The opening remarks were delivered by the METU President Prof. Dr. Verşan Kök, Villy Outzen, Asia, Oceania and Africa Director of LEGO Education, and Prof. Dr. Erdinç Çakıroğlu, Director of BİLTEMM. Fatma Bezek, General Manager of Teknokta Yenilikçi Öğrenim Çözümleri also attended the event.
Starting the opening speech by highlighting that, from the day it was founded, the Middle East Technical University has been an international university that symbolizes an educational approach that cares about universal values and development, has the capacity to create and sustain scientific, technological, cultural and environmental changes, and leads and pioneers in the training of individuals who adopt lifelong learning as a principle, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Verşan Kök added that “The Society and Science Center established in our University by the former President Prof. Dr. Ural Akbulut in order to strengthen the ties between community and science has been the representative of METU in the community over the last 13 years.”
Stating that with the recent innovations, a 3D printer workshop, a coding workshop, Göbeklitepe workshop, a children’s library, a 20-person cinema room where the documentary series prepared by METU for TRT will be shown, have been added into the current exhibitions, science center and planetarium and they are expecting more than 20 thousand students and adults from different cities and age groups to benefit from these facilities annually, Prof. Dr. Kök concluded his speech “Today, we are here for the opening of the Maker Space area that is created by LEGO Education for our university, offering education solutions for children aged between 1 and 16 years and has been applied in more than 100 countries since 1980, and the BİLTEMM Laboratory. I, the President of METU, express my gratitude to the managers and trainers of LEGO Education and its Turkish partner, Teknokta, who are here with us today to provide us with such great opportunities to deliver to the community.”
In his speech, Villy Outzen, Asia, Oceania and Africa Director of LEGO Education said that they are working with several universities around the world but it is an honor for them as LEGO Education to be here at METU, “The MIT of Turkey”, and to be a part of this project. Outzen continued his speech talking about Lego Education, and concluded his remarks by thanking for the possibility of working in the trainer’s training, having this constructive cooperation in mapping by matching the LEGO Education content with national curriculum and having the constructive field for children to try out LEGO Education solutions.
The collaboration between METU, which is committed to bringing its pioneer role in higher education to a wider audience, and LEGO Education aims to focus on STEM training for the training of individuals with the skills required by the 21st century for a better future. Collaborations for the dissemination of STEM education aim to raise awareness for society and individuals, and to provide vision for teachers and students.
