Practices and Strategies for teachers leading Maker projects

Kathy Malone coaches 1st graders as they use a stop-motion animation app to shoot their first short film.

In a Maker project, your role will shift from instructor to facilitator. Teaching through Making can present new challenges, even for an experienced teacher:

• difficulty tracking students’ progress
• more classroom materials and technologies to manage
• students' widely varying comfort levels using new technologies

This shift can also be hard on students who are used to direct instruction:

• Students are stuck and do not know how to proceed
• Students are coming back to teachers for help instead of using available resources
• Students groups are having trouble working together
• Students are reluctant to engage

Essential Maker facilitation practices

For a Maker project to be a rewarding experience for all, both the teacher and students will likely need to develop new practices.  We recognize 7 essential practices and strategies for effective project facilitation, and compiled a variety of facilitation moves to support these practices.  

Teacher Practices and Strategies​	What it Looks Like / Moves
1. Include joy, fun, and non-traditional experiences! Create an atmosphere that is lighthearted and welcoming	Smiles and greetings Demonstrations ​Relevant/fun video clips
​​2. Hear all voices, early and often, loud and soft, through posts, images, and other shares, as well as synchronous speaking​	Hear from everyone on 1st days “Pass it on” from kid to kid “Calling sticks” made in advance
3. Notice, connect, and encourage  Check in on students that drift off or miss activities, welcome them back, and support them in getting back on task​	Make contact with each individual Listen for personal interests Keep attendance Do frequent check-ins
4. Expect many ideas, many tries, evidence-based decisions Brainstorm,  iterate (repeat the project, learning from problems and mistakes) at least once, and proceed with defendable choices. ​​	Brainstorm: Save first idea then look for more Iterate: Try, Test, Reflect, Improve, Try again. Do quick cycles!
5. Have systems and materials ready and make sure students how to use them  Organize tools and resources so that they are easy for students to find, understand, and use Practice all work-flows with students Have lots of sample work available​	Provide links to online resources Clearly mark bins and workspaces Train students on all on common tools  Create systems for sharing tool and materials Do a simple sample project that requires the use of all tools, materials, and systems
6. Foster collaboration and teamwork  Encourage teamwork, but don't expect it will always be good.   Include group work and peer review in projects.  ​	Acknowledge that teamwork is not easy and takes a while to develop skills Break up project into many tasks and let students each choose several Use online sharing tools
7. Foster Self-Confidence and Self-direction    Expect and encourage students to find resources, make choices, and answer questions on their own.	Ask open-ended questions,and make it clear that there is no “wrong” answer Choose your battles - when to answer, when to help, when to let them figure it out

Our Maker Methodology
Click each step for information and downloadable planning tools.

1. Define your learning goals for the project
2. Discover other projects that can inspire your own
3. Design and Choose your own Maker project ideas
4. Plan the day-to-day details of your project 
5. Deliver your plan - roll out the project and facilitate your students' work 
6. Share your students' work with a larger community
7. Reflect and refine improve your project plans

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