INSPIRE wants faculty, student toy reviews for holiday gift guide

INSPIRE Research Institute for Pre-College Engineering wants the opinions of Purdue faculty, staff and students for its annual holiday Engineering Gift Guide.

A toy testing event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) in the atrium of Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Participating faculty, staff and students will be asked to help research which toys, games, books and apps prompt engineering thinking and design.

Forms to review the toys will be provided for people to fill out and will be collected at the end of their visit. The gifts are for children ages 3-18.

INSPIRE will provide refreshments for the reviewers.

For the fourth consecutive year, INSPIRE will issue its Engineering Gift Guide prior to the holiday shopping season. The guide provides reviews and information about gifts that promote engineering and STEM education. This year’s guide will be available in November.

The 2016 guide from was the biggest so far, filled with almost 100 fun toys, games and applications, along with 13 books, to engage girls and boys ages 3-18.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu