What talents or expertise would you want to share in your own Internet video? What would you want to teach the world?
In “A Science Star Already, Tinkering With the Idea of Growing Up,” Sindya N. Bhanoo writes about Sylvia Todd, an 11-year-old YouTube star who produces her own science “maker” videos.
Sylvia Todd’s desk is not tidy. It’s cluttered with small robots (including a solar-powered grasshopper), motors, wires, resistors, a soldering iron and an array of other gadgets and tools.
A maker, tinkerer and online celebrity, Sylvia has attracted more than 1.5 million YouTube views of the show she produces and hosts, the Web-based “Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show.” She is sought after for speaking engagements, visits maker fairs and even addresses TEDx conferences.
Last week she won a silver medal at an international robotics competition. And on Monday she took part in the White House Science Fair, where President Obama tested her latest project, a robot that paints.
Not bad for an 11-year-old.
With her father, James Todd, filming her, Sylvia uses puppetry, theme music and her home as a laboratory to demonstrate how things work. She makes science fun, mostly by having fun herself.
An audience of fellow makers, especially science-minded parents and children looking for projects, follow her D.I.Y. episodes — 19 so far — on circuit boards, sidewalk chalk, rocket ships and her favorite, an LED shield.
Students: After reading the article and watching one of Sylvia Todd’s videos, tell us …
- What would you want to teach the world about, or how to do?
- What talents or expertise would you want to share in your own Internet video?
- Who would you want your audience to be?
- What new skills or materials would you need in order to make your video?