The Boy with the Lego Hand

  

 

In an article that went online today, the Atlantic Monthly calls Coby Unger ’05 part of “technology’s next generation,” “a world-class product designer” who collaborates with a nine-year-old to develop a robotic prosthetic arm that fits his real-life needs, allowing the boy to hold a wii controller, play the violin and do his pushups.

There’s a lot for a Gordon fan to like in this story. It involves cutting edge technology and active collaboration. Even more importantly, it demonstrates a pragmatic, child-centered approach in which technology is a tool used to help a young person play and create.

It also involves LEGO and prosthetics, two elements that also figure in Gordon’s busy robotics program. This is a big year for the robotics program, with the curriculum moving into every grade Kindergarten and up, and a major statewide robotics league event happening at Gordon in December. 

More on all of this at www.gordonschool.org/robotics