Escuela Caracoles, Sierra Gorda
A maker room for Escuela Caracoles, in the commune of Sierra Gorda, modeled and walked through in 3D before it was built, and opened in May 2024.
A STEAM Maker Room for Escuela Caracoles, in the commune of Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta region, developed jointly by the Ideo Maker team and Fundación País Digital. It is part of MASXXI, Fundación País Digital's education transformation program, funded by BHP's Spence mine. The project had two stages: first the space modeled and walked through in 3D, and then the room built and opened, with the teachers trained to use it.
My role
- 3D model of the space in Unreal Engine
- Definition of the Aula STEAM Maker Space, with the team
- Implementation and training process
Modeling the room before building it is not a presentation exercise. It lets you discuss circulation, machine placement and work zones with the institution at the moment when moving a table costs a click and not construction work. When the school sees the space walked through in first person, different observations come up.
The finished room
The room opened in May 2024, together with a printed guide that serves as the space's reference: the STEAM approach, design thinking and the three zones of the classroom, so the teaching staff has at hand why the room is designed this way.
The opening
The rooms at the two schools opened together on May 23, 2024, with local officials, Spence representatives and the school community. That day Ideo Maker set up a maker fair for students. The photos are from the joint event with Escuela Estación Baquedano.
