Takeaways from 2020
Challenges of the past year Classroom teachers struggled with the logistics of distance learning:
New tools, practices, and self-knowledge that teachers gained Online creative tools for students:
Online video and communication tools for teachers and students
Online tools for interactive lessons
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Positives from the past year Despite the constraints, Maker educators mentioned more pluses than minuses from this unforgettable school year. Many turned the challenges into positives!
What educators want Fall 2021 to look like: When schools return to in-person classes, Maker educators are looking to address students’ needs for physical contact with people and objects, and their desire to be creative and expressive. They also want to include the technologies many of us learned and adopted during remote learning. Educators are looking for:
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What educators need to make it happen
The needs of Maker educators are straightforward and realizable - time, collaboration, and technical resources
The needs of Maker educators are straightforward and realizable - time, collaboration, and technical resources
- Community and mentorship - I need “someone to bounce ideas off of and to inspire/challenge me with things I wouldn't have thought about”
- Collaboration with school colleagues - “I'd love to generate projects and units that integrate curricular content more explicitly. I need: Collaboration with core teachers to show them how powerful the STEAM experience is in bringing kids further into the understanding and engagement of content.” I need to “get teachers to want to try a project in their curriculum”
- Technical skills such as 2D graphic design, 3D modeling, safe use of hand tools, electronics
- A functional Makerspace, with a variety of equipment, that is set up for classes of 20+ students
How do you want Fall 2021 to look? What do you and your school need?
We can help you out with our professional development (offered in-person remote) and free online resources
Looking for community and mentorship? Check out the Master Making in the Classroom program. Spend 10 weeks in a community of Maker educators, learning to design and deliver your own engaging Maker projects and how to create an ongoing Maker culture in your school
Want to set up a Makerspace or learn how to use Maker tools? Spend a day learning and creating, with a focus on using these tools on classroom projects. We offer 9 different full-day Maker Skills Workshops, all in-person and remote.
Do some learning on your own! Browse this site for Maker project ideas, a Makerspace design guide, tool information, student training guides, and making the case for Making at your school.
Interested in custom Maker Professional Development at your site? Let us know your needs and we'll work with you to create it!
We can help you out with our professional development (offered in-person remote) and free online resources
Looking for community and mentorship? Check out the Master Making in the Classroom program. Spend 10 weeks in a community of Maker educators, learning to design and deliver your own engaging Maker projects and how to create an ongoing Maker culture in your school
Want to set up a Makerspace or learn how to use Maker tools? Spend a day learning and creating, with a focus on using these tools on classroom projects. We offer 9 different full-day Maker Skills Workshops, all in-person and remote.
Do some learning on your own! Browse this site for Maker project ideas, a Makerspace design guide, tool information, student training guides, and making the case for Making at your school.
Interested in custom Maker Professional Development at your site? Let us know your needs and we'll work with you to create it!