A great way to contribute to the overall education of a student is through extracurricular programs. Teachers can build stronger relationships with students and apply what they are taught in the classroom to real world and fun applications.

Kevin Husson from the Howe-Manning School in Middleton, Massachusetts has done just that as he takes LEGO® to the next level.  His program, Seacoast Technology Workshops has been providing hands-on LEGO® Robotics & Engineering and video-game design workshops all over Boston's North Shore and New Hampshire's Seacoast.

We discuss Kevin's teaching career, how he got started with the program and the impact it's had on him and his students.

Summer Bridge Program (mentioned during "raise your hand" segment)

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Oftentimes, when the kids come to my program,

build something and then to program it and to make it move,

the summertime. The fun really has to come first, right? But

That is Kevin Hudson from the how many school in

Hello, and welcome back to another show. My name is Mr. S .

to the next level. He provides hands on Lego robotics and video

unique interest and to make those great connections with

chess club. I've run math team, I've run password, the old

I've had great success with the extra curricular work but my

workshops are all about. Coming up next on get school with Mr.

When I got into the podcast game, I had no idea what I was

equipment in my house even helped me create my shows

production process. 24 hour turnaround time on recordings,

looking to start an audio or video podcast, check them out

I'd like to welcome Kevin Hudson to Get Schooled Kevin, welcome

Hi, Keith. It's it's great to connect with you

Thanks for your time. And could you tell us a little bit

Sure. Well, um, it's I've been teaching in the

hard to believe when you're stopping think that It's been 26

And what led you to become a teacher?

You know, it's funny, I remember for me as a

fell in love with school, again, fell in love with him, and in

much he meant to me in fifth grade and the connection that we

counselor, as well. So that was a chance for us to sort of

And when I was a first year teacher, I was so happy to

nice camaraderie between guys as is I have a group of friends

I do, Keith and those were some some great,

in district wide meetings where there are 50 6070 people in the

and, you know, it's but definitely different. You know,

That's, that's really good. And I would agree, I have

Yeah, this is, you know, I think we've all we've

getting kids back into the classroom. So we've been back

best way to describe it right now is just making it work. And

And what adaptations Have you made in your teaching to

Well, I think one of the things well, when we were

these students are spending on screen. So once once the

together because we're all masked up and we're six feet

just trying to get them off the zoom screen. So hands on

And, and one of the things that, that caught my eye

Yeah, so I think, you know, it's funny, my career,

projector, and there was one computer that was wheeled around

know, a tremendous grow from virtually zero technology to,

everyone. So, for me, it's, it was, you know, I wasn't afraid

wet, so to speak. So I'm to the point now, where I definitely

As you get older is the technology will harder to keep

I find sometimes it changes so quickly, you know,

So for me, it was always the changes were happening so fast.

that's something that is really stuck. So I feel like at least

been nice to finally find something that we can just

those tools. And so that, for me, has been something I've

. You have a really amazing summer workshops and

All right. Well, sure. It's a long story. And And

football, so we were always outside, so but what little time

putting on the Saturday morning cartoons and dumping that bin of

school, you know, the Legos just sat in a bin, you know, in the

sell Lego kits to the schools. I think you've actually used some

with other districts and the kids had to invent and it got

Lego it was it was a dream come true for me. So um, so that's

was looking for someone to come run the Lego program for their

was kind of a new new thing. So Lego had been around for a

this was in Beverly, Massachusetts is where they were

the house where I grew up. So um, so that got so that was

of a perfect, perfect match for me in the summertime. And then

and I was like, wow, I need a job. So I needed to have a job

Hudson. I'm a fourth grade teacher. I've been teaching for

thing they they put me up in their summer brochure. And it

pretty soon word spread other towns that hey, you know, can

probably four or five, six weeks of summer. And eventually I was

The running joke over the is like a rock star. You have

Yeah, it was so it was it's a great it's a fun, you

should hold on to my baseball cards and my Lego that was it.

just that the perfect job for me is teaching children and I'm

And and the name you coined was Seacoast Technology

Yeah, I kind of just worked as a sole

it's 12 or 13 miles of coastline. So we're kind of

Workshops. I did eventually morph into computer coding and

And there were more people who are offering to run these Lego

fall, and the school year I'm teaching. So a lot of that, you

So I started teaching video game designing and coding to kids.

you know, I took out a small loan, and invested in a whole

towns don't want other people using their equipment and

anywhere, so that that part was was great for me.

What's your target audiences is it upper

That's a great question. So for me, I've always

one through six, I don't typically, you know, draw too

has used Lego before, right, they have Lego at home, this is

probably built Lego, you know, many, many times in their life,

whole new dimension to building when you can actually make

environment. You know, the when the kids can interact, so every

also there's a lot of learning going on as well. So what's

just maybe they're learning to play. And, you know, we're

plastic, let's try to reduce the friction. So I do always try to

they bring their creation, to life. And again, and having

And as a dad of two daughters, grades three and

I would say a typical class maybe I would

the Lego Friends sets as well. So it's, it's certainly great to

friend sets because their friend sets have brought a whole new

That's great. Nice to see you getting a new audience that

and June? And the regular school year?

Yeah, I do. You know, it's funny one thing that

basically canceled, right? Nobody was planning in person

But what it did do is this fall, as I realized, Hey, I can

me and made me realize that there are ways to do what I do

And for anyone in our audience. Kevin, do you have any

going?

I would say key is to find a passion you know, find

that that's I would start there is a there is a big market out

clamoring to get their kids back into those face to face programs

reaching out to a lot of town recreation departments. So

home. So that's how I might recommend people get started is

And for listeners in our immediate area, Kevin, how would

Yeah, so thanks. Sure. So I maintain a Facebook

we're planning summer. Again, assuming everything is safe, and

Okay, and we will add those links in the description

Yeah, you know, I have to say I really I like

Friday. So

I knew they were three clunkers in a row there, Kevin,

Well, yeah, that you know, I think I you know, I

Well, I may have to book you again in July for a little

it's great Original Six matchup, that's for sure. You know, I

payback, right. So if something is brewing in the first game,

Keith. It was really a pleasure. This was my

I feel the same I feel I listen to numbers gonna go

Well, I really, honestly their real purpose for

thanks for joining us on Get Schooled with Mr. S.

Now it's time for my raise your hand portion of the show where

GetSchooledwithmrs@gmail.com. So raise your hand and join the

Mr. S, I questioned the accuracy of Miss Baker's story about Lou

Our next question comes from James in Arizona. I am concerned

make up for a tough year of school. Thanks, and I'm enjoying

Thanks for raising your hand. James. I think a lot of parents

catastrophic. So to that end, don't stress your son or

also highly recommended over the summer. So James, I really thank

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