Maker Methodology

Our process for creating meaningful Maker experiences

Metodología Maker en español

What is a Maker project? 

Using cool tools
to build
something creative of your own
with others
​improving as you go

Key Skills and Mindsets

Tech skills
thinking with your hands
ownership
collaboration
learning from failure

About our Maker Methodology

In a Maker classroom, we empower our students to learn and create by helping them follow an open-ended design process. A design process can also be a powerful tool for teachers creating Maker projects - it's a reliable way to create and recreate projects that
​

• meet your learning goals
• fit your constraints
• ignite student enthusiasm
• help you grow professionally ​

​That's why we worked with other teachers to create and test our Maker Methodology - a teacher-friendly design process for creating, planning, and facilitating meaningful Maker projects. Our printable tools are available online for free at the website pages linked below.  We also offer these tools en Español.  Find those tools and learn more about our Aprendo Creando program here.

Learn the Maker Methodology with a group of enthusiastic Maker educators 
Enroll in our 10-week Master Making in the Classroom PD for K-12 Educators

Steps of the Maker Methodology (for teachers)

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

​description for download
​Maker project design process for teachers

​description for download
​Design Process for student Maker projects

Outline of the Maker Methodology

Template  for this Outline

​Teachers Define

Teachers Discover

Teachers Design & Choose

​Teachers Plan

Teachers Deliver

Guide the students through these steps

Teachers Share (along with the students)

Teachers Reflect
​

Pick learning objectives and possible tools ​0 - Definition Template
​

Research existing projects and draw inspiration from them

Come up with ideas and choose one

Plan project details: activities, schedule, etc.
1. Project Overview Template
2. Lesson + Activity Planning Template
3. Maker Project Checklist

Students Define

Students Learn & Explore
​​
​

Students Design & Choose
​

Students Create

​Students
Observe and Improve
​

Students reflect

Los estudiantes Share 
(along with the teachers)

Learn the project requirements

Research the topic and possible ways to carry out the project, look at samples, learn how to use the tools, try things out.

Come up with several ideas and choose one

Plan the work, get materials, build the idea

Check your product with the requirements, identify things to improve, review with classmates, etc. 
​Loop back to Create!

Think and write about what you did and learned, etc

Share Show project results in and out of the classroom

​Teachers think and write about what they did and learned, and modifications for a future project, etc.