CLOSTER—The Closter Public Library recently hosted a lively STEM Engineering Workshop for children ages 7 to 13, giving participants — along with curious parents and younger siblings — a chance to learn, build, and invent.
The Feb. 10 event was led by educator KerryAnn O’Conner, president of Learning Education Exchange Consulting LLC, who guided the group through a hands-on project to design and build vending machines while introducing key engineering concepts. The program took place just ahead of National Inventors’ Day, observed annually on Feb. 11 to celebrate innovation and creativity.
O’Conner holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership.
STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is just one of many youth programs organized by Lupita O’Brien, the library’s Head of Youth Services.
From 4 to 5 p.m., O’Conner walked the children through the engineering design process: Ask, Imagine, Design, Create, Test, and Improve. She also gave a brief, engaging history of vending machines, explaining how coin-operated machines were first introduced in London in 1880 to sell newspapers, stamps, and postcards — and how today’s versions can be activated with credit cards or even smartphones.
The group then brainstormed common vending machine problems, like items getting stuck or the wrong selection dropping. Together, they discussed ways to design their machines to avoid these pitfalls.
A materials table provided an assortment of supplies to help the kids personalize their machines and create mechanisms for pressure and motion. Each participant received a box of raisins and a juice pouch to use as test items.
“Nowadays, kids are often told exactly how to do things, which makes them more like robots,” O’Conner said. “I don’t show them a model because I want them to use their imagination to create their own prototype. I want them to be independent thinkers.”
She added, “I love the fact that these kids don’t get frustrated. When they hit a snag, they keep trying. They’re self-sufficient when they work — I just come by and ask them questions, and they figure out the answers themselves.”
The results were impressive. Within an hour, the young engineers had designed vending machines that used creative mechanisms to dispense their snacks — each machine unique and functional in its own way.
“All students, educators, and community members benefit from hands-on learning,” she said. “These experiences enhance the home-school connection and prepare children with the 21st-century skills they’ll need for the future.”
For more information about Closter Public Library programs, visit closterpubliclibrary.org.