Re:How to Get Girls into Engineering? Let Them Build Toys
by watwut on Monday August 25, 2014 @04:01AM
(#8220971)
Isnt lego more art then engineering through? I liked engineering toys as a child (mostly merkur), but found lego less interesting. It is more about building something good looking then about solving problems and being technical.
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Re:How to Get Girls into Engineering? Let Them Build Toys
by kragniz on Monday August 25, 2014 @04:17AM
(#8220990)
It depends on what you're building. If you're playing around with minifigs and the basic bricks, then yes, mostly. However, Lego Technic is much more about solving problems, particularity the Mindstorms [0] range. I had the RCX when I was around 9, and programming it and making things that move really started an interest in robotics. I've helped out at some local FIRST Lego League events [1], which are very engineering-focused.
[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms_EV3
Re:How to Get Girls into Engineering? Let Them Build Toys
by watwut on Monday August 25, 2014 @05:04AM
(#8221072)
Point taken, I did not had lego technic. I'm not sure about today, but it was more expensive then just buying bricks and over what my parents were willing to pay for a toy. Although lego Technic looked to me like a toy anyway while merkur looked to me like a "real thing". There is something special on using real screwdriver and screws :).
Lego Mindstorms would be in the same price category today, I would say. I suspect most parents would have to be sure the kid will play with it to excuse the price, it is not something you buy just to try whether the kid like it or not.