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The Jury had a demanding task to select winners.

Moving and playable toys captivated with their ingenuity in the technology competition for primary pupils. The regional competition of Uusimaa was decided on March 10.

The toys and gadgets in ‘This works’ (Tämä toimii) technology competition were buzzing and vibrating, delighting with their versatility and with their technical features. The A and B series of the regional competition had a total of 30 pupil groups from grades 4 to 6. One team from each series was selected to the finals that are organised in May, in Cable Factory in Helsinki.

The Uusimaa competition was organised by LUMA Centre at Aalto University and LUMA Centre of the University of Helsinki in cooperation with Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

Toys are modelled the way engineers work

Excitement and  enthusiasm grew intense in Metropolia big auditorium as the pupils waited for the day to begin. Carefully planned, prepared and built products had been taken to their assessment points first thing in the morning.

The head of Metropolia field of information and communication technology, Janne Salonen, welcomed the pupil groups to the event in his opening speech.

"The construction of these works is conducted the same way as in real engineering work: First a demo is made and tested, then a result is achieved and the product is improved based on data from different work stages."

Victorious toys were creative and recycling theme featured prominently

This year the theme of the technology competition was recycling. The toys planned for the competition were innovative and their technical construction was skilful. All school groups used the same material package. The package contained for example bottle caps, a margarine packet, craft beads, a miniature electric motor and switches. These resulted in billiard games, a soap bubble machine and a flying spinning top, among other things.

The use of recycling materials was innovative, and for example storage pouches for game pieces were made from jeans’ back pockets, CDs were used in toy decoration, or renovation material from schools were used in toys. The most functional ones were found amongst a multitude of ideas, and the planning and production processes were meticulously documented in the diaries. The idea formation was assured to have been easy.

"It just came from somewhere", more than one group said.

There were some challenges during the next stage, implementation. For example the wire legs of a mechanised elephant had to be turned inwards after testing, otherwise the toy would not have moved.

‘Series of shots’ (Sarjalaukaus) of Kerava’s Savio school

‘Eco centre’ (Ekokeskus) of Tuusula’s Kirkonkylä school

Two works from regional competition were selected to the finals: ‘Eco centre’ (Ekokeskus) of Tuusula’s Kirkonkylä school and ‘Series of shots’ (Sarjalaukaus) of Kerava’s Savio school.

The jury justified their difficult choice as follows:

Both groups’ presentation of their work was enthusiastic and active. Recycling materials were utilised in various ways and the works were finished. The works were strong in all assessment criteria. They were the best in taking into consideration the functionality and playability of the toy, in creative use of recycled material and in describing the project progress.

These works also had planned some further development for the finals.

Written by Annika Artimo

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The Uusimaa competition was organised by LUMA Centre at Aalto University and LUMA Centre of the University of Helsinki in cooperation with Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

‘This works’ competition is nationally organised by LUMA Centre Finland that was established in November 2013 as the umbrella organisation for LUMA Centres in Finnish Universities. LUMA Centre Finland is also the main sponsor of the competition. The competition is organised by Tampere’s LUMATE Centre.

‘This works’ finals are in May in Cable Factory, Helsinki.