TNMOC STEM Bytes Festivals
Hands-On Activities For The Whole Family To Enjoy!
About STEM Bytes
The National Museum of Computing houses the world's largest collection of working historic computers, bringing to life the pioneering evolution of computing. During your visit, don’t forget to explore the Museum and be captivated by the 50,000 extraordinary artefacts in our unrivalled collection, illuminated by first-hand knowledge and hands-on demonstrations from our expert Museum Guides and Volunteers.
The Museum is bursting with exhilarating new technology, ready for families to immerse themselves in fun and creative educational activities designed to unlock imaginations and inspire the next generation of STEM enthusiasts.
Our STEM Bytes Festivals are a must-attend event during the school holidays for children and families keen to try something new, educational and fun! These sessions are an opportunity to experience a 'Byte'-sized taste of a selection of major STEM topics, including Programming, Robotics, Augmented Reality (AR) and Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Upcoming STEM Bytes Events:
Our Bytes Festivals are run during the School Holidays, typically February, Easter, Summer, October and Christmas. We have limited places, so please remember to book in advance!
Click the link below to book. Remember, tickets also include full museum access!
STEM Bytes Activities Include…
Botley 2.0
Full of fun features and special codes, including light-up eyes for night vision, Botley 2.0 comes packed full of hands-on coding activities and challenges, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
BBC Micros
Try your hand at programming 1980s style with our suite of original 1980s BBC Micros. We have programming challenges for all skill levels, from learning the Basics (Pun Intended!) to developing a game of Snake!
CAD & 3D Printing
From keyrings to working tools, the only limit of 3D printing is your imagination! Using beginner friendly software, 3D printing teaches the basic concepts of CAD modelling and engineering, all whilst developing key creative and mathematical skils. When not running workshops, our 3D printers can be found printing a wide variety of parts to help keep our museum exhibits working and looking their best!
BBC Micro:Bit
Understand how software and hardware work together using a pocket-sized Micro:bit computer. Featuring a variety of components that allow you to physically interact with your program through buttons, accelerometers and robotics kits. Forty years on, the BBC Micro:bit continues the educational legacy of the revolutionary BBC Microcomputer.
Minecraft Education Edition
Fun and interactive, this game-based digital learning platform allows you to develop your creativity, innovation, collaboration and problem solving skills within a fascinating immersive digital environment. Minecraft’s Education Edition is ideal for exploring a plethora of subjects including: Languages, Art and Design, History and Culture, Computer Science and Maths.
OSMO Augmented Reality
Exciting technology that uses physical blocks to interact with a virtual game. Created by our partners at OSMO, these augmented reality games introduce concepts of STEM in an accessible and fun way, from Programming to Engineering to Maths, for kids up to the age of 10.
Oculus Virtual Reality*
Step into another world with our Virtual Reality sessions, from defusing bombs to exploring the words in the cockpit of a 747. Experience flying a plane through a virtual world or building communication skills by collaboratively solving fast-paced problems requiring abstraction, decomposition and computational thinking. Our VR session has something for everyone!
*Our Virtual Reality sessions are suitable for children aged 12+
Sphero Bolts
The number one STEM-based learning solutions provider worldwide, Sphero’s remarkable programmable robots and educational STEM kits, designed for exploration and experimentation, will transform the way you learn, from building an obstacle course to navigate to programming the robot in one of several different languages, these robots are suitable for all ages!
Turing Tumble
Turing Tumble is a unique game where players (ages 8 to adult) build mechanical computers powered by marbles and gravity to solve logic puzzles. It’s fun, addicting, and while you’re at it, you discover how computers work.
Ambassador Kids
As a Museum, we strive to champion, support and enthuse the younger generation in their pursuit of and engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) subjects.
The Ambassador Kids Programme, aims to offer increased diverse learning opportunities and practical hands-on activities at the Museum to inspire, educate and engage young people and their families.
Participants in the Ambassador Kids Programme have the opportunity to:
Explore the evolution of Computing and Technology by handling real artefacts from the Museum’s collection.
Use, experiment with and review exciting technology kit provided by the Museum’s sponsors/partners. For example, engineering design, mathematics, problem-solving and programming kits provided by Sphero, the number one worldwide STEM-based learning solutions provider.
Participate in practical activities and creative projects designed to cultivate personal development and elevate young people’s essential skills, knowledge and experience; for example, using augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) and practising coding/programming.
Over the last two years we have facilitated The Ambassador Kids Programme and this will run again in 2023, twice a month on a Sunday from 10.00 - 13.00. The recommended age of participants is children aged 9+ years. Sessions need to be booked using the link below, and are free to Museum Supporters and Annual Ticket Holders. We offer free sponsored places thanks to Lightning Tools so please contact us for more information.
During 2022, Laura and the team have delivered over 800 hours of individual learning and taught 70 students and been supported by over 30 amazing volunteers.
