techJOYnT offers students a place to tinker, create, learn robotics

Ramier “Ray” Shaik aspires to change that, with the opening of techJOYnT in the Rockwell Plaza.

Following a gym-based business model, Shaik's company — which celebrated its grand opening on Monday — offers technologically-savvy parents a place where their kids, ages 4 to 17, can create, tinker and learn, at monthly memberships of $39; $99 for families. Game design, software application development and other classes will be offered at $10 an hour for members; $30 for nonmembers.

In the 12,200-square-foot space he leases at 8328 Glade Ave., Shaik also plans to offer teacher development classes and robotics-themed birthday parties.

“Kids can use their own creativity to build robots from modular parts,” he said. “Looking at, and touching, a three-dimensional robot, which can go from one place to another, gives them a remarkable spark on their faces.”

Using LEGO Mindstorms kits or TEXTRIX building systems from Pitsco Education, the students Shaik have coached have created everything from ball sorters, automatic toilet flushers and three-dimension printers to automatic scooters, automatic lawnmowers and iPad-operated helicopters, he said.