Bits&Matter Technology Studio

Access to technology education can be transformative - not only for the student, but for the world the student will go on to impact. Technology teaches critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as providing a constructive basis for bringing new ideas to reality.  Yet 80% of America’s students, most often those overall disadvantaged, never learn about it (Code.org). Often, those lacking access also stand in general on the far side of the digital divide, unable to connect with resources and support due to lack of technical literacy. Further, more savvy technology users and designers means better, longer lived, and less harmful electronics manufacturing and disposal practices.

Bits&Matter Technology Studio (BMTS) will address this lack in Miami by offering an open education and innovation lab withaccess to electronics lab equipment, instruction on basic use, advanced educational programs, and a gathering space for our community of technology enthusiasts. BMTS will also serve as an accessible, affordable technology provider for the underserved surrounding areas in many ways, including refurbishing donated computers and providing them for a wide variety of community uses.

BMTS is currently establishing partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Are you interested in partnering with us to produce technology oriented programming?

BMTS is campaigning to acquire its initial equipment and materials purchase, space lease and educational programming for three months, and will support its operations thereafter with an evolving fee for service model.

Month 1

• We will purchase equipment to complete the electronics lab.

• We will lease and build out our Studio Space

• We will program an educational series on electronics and small scale computing fundamentals. This educational series will serve existing, unmet demands in the technology community, and will be an ongoing feature of BMTS.

• We will follow these educational programs with school visits and programming, open lab hours, and further programming - encouraging a collaborative community of research, invention, and general tinkering.

Months 2 and 3

• We will program an educational series on 3D printing foundations. Courses will be led by a former employee of Makerbot. This educational series will serve as the foundation of future courses on 3D printing.

• We will program an educational series on Arduino Microcontrollers. This educational series will serve existing, unmet demands in the technology community, and will be an ongoing feature of BMTS.

• We will program an educational series on Raspberry Pi programming. This educational series will serve existing, unmet demands in the technology community, and will be an ongoing feature of BMTS.

• We will follow these educational programs with school visits and programming, open lab hours, and further programming - encouraging a collaborative community of research, invention, and general tinkering.

Access to technology education can be transformative - not only for the student, but for the world the student will go on to impact. Technology teaches critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as providing a constructive basis for bringing new ideas to reality.  Yet 80% of America’s students, most often those overall disadvantaged, never learn about it (Code.org). Further, more savvy technology users and designers means better, longer lived, and less harmful electronics manufacturing and disposal practices.