UNT MindSpark

Welcome to UNT MindSpark Spring 2021 is an episode to introduce UNT MindSpark, the approach for the Spring 2021 semester, topics our student host teams will be delving in to, as well as our goal for this podcast. We will explore some of the things that have changed in The Spark Makerspace at UNT and how we are approaching making through the pandemic.

Host: JP Abah

JP is UNT Student, Lead, Ambassador, and Maker. He has been working in the makerspace at UNT for over three years, with a passion for the maker movement and the impact of experiential learning provided by the hands on learning in a makerspace. JP is a senior at UNT who is set to graduate later this year with a Bachelors of Applied Science in Data Analytics.

Producer and Guest: J. Hunter

The Operations Manager for The Spark Makerspace at the University of North Texas Libraries.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Training and Development and her Master’s degree in Public Administration from UNT, and has more than 20 years as a professional IT manager and has been with the UNT Makerspace since its inception.

As the operations manager, Judy is responsible for staff development, project management, the space transitions and technology advancements.   She has been instrumental in the success of the Libraries’ progress in these areas.

Producer and Editor: S. Sparkman

Please join the UNT Spark Makerspace as we bring you up to date with changes that happened between semesters and introduce to you the Fall 2020 team of hosts for UNT MindSpark Podcasts.

Following from our previous weeks’ episode, we continue exploring the concept of creative play but this time through the prism of escape rooms. An escape room is a time-constrained real life adventure game that requires you to complete a mission and “escape”. Escape rooms can be a great creative outlet for both its makers and explorers. This week we are joined by Amanda and Yancey Yeargan; they are a husband and wife team who own and operate Quandary Escape Adventures with their partner Tim Sonnier. Sit tight because in this episode, we’ll be touching on topics like - why Escape room are a growing creative outlet for many, what escape room creators want you to know and how you can beat any escape room.  

Host: JP Abah & Steven Sparkman

Guests: Amanda Yeargan, Yancey Yeargan

Bio: Amanda and Yancey Yeargan are a husband and wife team who own and operate Quandary Escape Adventures with their partner Tim Sonnier. Both Alumni of UNT, Yancey has an associate degree in Electronics and a bachelor’s in computer science. He wires and programs most of the electronics involved in their escape room games. Amanda graduated with a bachelor’s in general studies and taught Algebra for seven years before launching into the Escape Room industry. An avid woodworking enthusiast, Amanda designs and builds most of the props in their escape rooms as well as designing story lines and puzzle logistics.

Our Makerspace’s role in Childhood Learning

This week we are shifting gears a little bit from creative thinking to talk about our Summer programming class, we also talk about why The Spark Makerspace has embraced the vital work of exposing children to emerging technologies. The recurring topic in this episode is the concept of creative play as an important aspect of childhood development. Through creative play, children can further develop emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically. Our discussion is with UNT’s Makerspace manager- Judy Hunter as well as UNT Alumni/ curriculum developer of The Spark summer programming class- Alicia Maldonado. We hope our audience can take away the value in exposing children as early as possible to these creative opportunities.

Sources: The Importance of Creative Play for Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.thelittlegym.com/blog/2017/9/the-importance-of-creative-play-for-kids/

Host: JP Abah & Steven Sparkman

Guests: Alicia Maldonado, Judy Hunter

You can reach out to our team at [email protected] 

In this episode Makerspace employees discuss the impact of virtual reality availability in a number of fields. Bringing design thinking in to the arts, and developing new mediums for art and learning.

Host: JP Abah and Steven Sparkman

Guest Speakers:

Nick Carter, UNT New Media Arts Alum, The Spark (Factory) Makerspace Alum, a current SMU Graduate Game Design Student

Cameron Driller, current UNT biochemistry student and Spark Maker

In this episode we explore game design theory, using creativity to transfer ideas into a game.

Host: JP Abah and Steven Sparkman

Guest: Jeremy Kincaid Prosper ISD Teacher, Librarian, and Writer.

Co-hosts JP and Steven, discuss the Maker mindset and the similarities to design thinking and how making/tinkering empowers learners to try and celebrate failures as well as success and take away the knowledge gained through the process.

Hosts: JP Abah, Steven Sparkman

Guest Maker: Alicia Maldonado

Guest: Robert Bettis, UNT Alum May '19 Media Arts degree, former Maker at The Factory and a Video professional with a focus on media production for digital platforms.

In The Spark Makerspace's first podcast- we introduce making and the goal of our Makerspace podcast. The Spark Makerspace was formerly called The Factory officially transitioning now through the summer 2020. The goal of our podcast will be to talk about making, makerspaces, STEM, STEAM, Innovation, UNT Innovation and cutting edge technology for hobbies and careers of tomorrow!

Host: JP Abah

Guest: Judy Hunter