K-12 Maker Experiential Learning Opportunities
for MIT Students
for MIT Students
Get involved in K-12 Making with a supervised research project
UROPs for K12Maker Lab at MIT Edgerton Center
Fall 2022
Fall 2022
1. Design and Prototype Maker Projects for K-12 educators
Create the projects you wish you could have done in high school!
Create the projects you wish you could have done in high school!
Location: MIT Edgerton Center Student Project Lab, room 4-409
Description: Create Maker project samples for K-12 educators in any content area and support them in integrating Maker/STEM/hands-on projects into their classrooms. Use Maker tools and materials (such as 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl/craft cutters, electronics, physical computing, sewing machines, hand tools, and craft materials) in the design of expressive projects for academic classrooms in grades 5 - 12.
All student-created activities and supporting resources will be made available to educators via webinar and online repository.
Work will take place at the MIT Edgerton Center Student Project Lab (4-409) and training will be provided.
Seeking: 3 - 5 students interested in K-12 education and the Maker culture
Student responsibilities:
Hours:
Summer 2022: 20 - 40 hrs/wk from late May through July
Fall and Spring Semester: 4 - 6 hrs/wk
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu
Apply on ELX
Background:
The Edgerton Center has a mission of developing and fostering experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students as well as MIT students. In our Maker project initiative we help K-12 educators design and implement Maker projects in their core curricula.
We define Maker projects as authentic (students have a personal connection to the project), project-based learning activities, that involve community and collaboration, and have a strong component of hands-on technology-based tools (think 3D printer, laser cutter, Arduino microcomputer, electronics, shop tools, sewing machine). Our methodology is used by K-12 educators integrating STEM and Maker activities into core academic subjects, including Social Studies, English/Language Arts, and World Languages as well as STEM subjects.
We are working with a group of K-12 schools to develop this methodology and sample projects. Our need is for students to design and create appropriate project samples that will inspire the teachers in this group and show the range of opportunities available with the Maker technologies. Students will learn and use tools and materials at our shop, research standards and school practices, then iterate on projects. The goal is for students to design and create the kinds of projects they wish they could have done in high school or middle school, from their own ideas and/or informed by the collaborating K-12 teachers.
Description: Create Maker project samples for K-12 educators in any content area and support them in integrating Maker/STEM/hands-on projects into their classrooms. Use Maker tools and materials (such as 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl/craft cutters, electronics, physical computing, sewing machines, hand tools, and craft materials) in the design of expressive projects for academic classrooms in grades 5 - 12.
All student-created activities and supporting resources will be made available to educators via webinar and online repository.
Work will take place at the MIT Edgerton Center Student Project Lab (4-409) and training will be provided.
Seeking: 3 - 5 students interested in K-12 education and the Maker culture
Student responsibilities:
- Learn to use Maker tools and materials
- Learn about the needs of academic teachers and time/materials that are typically available
- Work with a team to define, generate, refine, and choose project ideas
- Create prototype project samples (2 - 4 over semester, more over summer)
- Document projects in short format for the Idea Gallery or long format for our Instructables page
- Assist at teacher workshops as possible
Hours:
Summer 2022: 20 - 40 hrs/wk from late May through July
Fall and Spring Semester: 4 - 6 hrs/wk
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu
Apply on ELX
Background:
The Edgerton Center has a mission of developing and fostering experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students as well as MIT students. In our Maker project initiative we help K-12 educators design and implement Maker projects in their core curricula.
We define Maker projects as authentic (students have a personal connection to the project), project-based learning activities, that involve community and collaboration, and have a strong component of hands-on technology-based tools (think 3D printer, laser cutter, Arduino microcomputer, electronics, shop tools, sewing machine). Our methodology is used by K-12 educators integrating STEM and Maker activities into core academic subjects, including Social Studies, English/Language Arts, and World Languages as well as STEM subjects.
We are working with a group of K-12 schools to develop this methodology and sample projects. Our need is for students to design and create appropriate project samples that will inspire the teachers in this group and show the range of opportunities available with the Maker technologies. Students will learn and use tools and materials at our shop, research standards and school practices, then iterate on projects. The goal is for students to design and create the kinds of projects they wish they could have done in high school or middle school, from their own ideas and/or informed by the collaborating K-12 teachers.
2. Teamwork Training for students - research and experimentation
Unlock the secrets of effective groupwork - how self-discovery can make group projects productive, fun, and rewarding.
Unlock the secrets of effective groupwork - how self-discovery can make group projects productive, fun, and rewarding.
Location: remote or in MIT room 4-409
Description: Support the development of teamwork training activities for college groups and/or K-12 educators. Our methodology www.teamingfortomorrow.org is based on understandings of personality archetypes and self-assessments that have been used extensively in industry but not frequently in educational environments. The goal is to prepare students with the interaction skills required to work effectively on group projects. College level activities are intended for academic group projects and for MIT clubs and teams. The K-12 activities are intended to support teachers leading projects in any subject.
Seeking: 3 undergrads interested in effective teamwork behaviors (social science) and how it relates to education
Student responsibilities:
Hours: 4 - 6 / week
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu
Description: Support the development of teamwork training activities for college groups and/or K-12 educators. Our methodology www.teamingfortomorrow.org is based on understandings of personality archetypes and self-assessments that have been used extensively in industry but not frequently in educational environments. The goal is to prepare students with the interaction skills required to work effectively on group projects. College level activities are intended for academic group projects and for MIT clubs and teams. The K-12 activities are intended to support teachers leading projects in any subject.
Seeking: 3 undergrads interested in effective teamwork behaviors (social science) and how it relates to education
Student responsibilities:
- Learn the strategies and tools compiled at the MIT Edgerton Center for self-awareness and for developing effective team interaction skills
- Research the needs and challenges of college and/or K-12 students for interactions on team projects
- Develop and pilot activities that help students develop awareness of a range of behaviors and practice effective team interactions. This may involve working with K-12 educators or with student groups at MIT.
- Document the activities and the process including research, planning, experiences, results
Hours: 4 - 6 / week
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu
3. Research on effectiveness of Maker training for K12 teachers
How can K12 teachers lead magnificent Maker Projects and how will their students benefit?
How can K12 teachers lead magnificent Maker Projects and how will their students benefit?
Location: remote or in MIT room 4-409
Description: Analyze data from a recent teacher training program and create/lead the research for the Fall 2021 program.
At the Edgerton Center K12MakerLab we lead a teacher-training program where K12 teachers learn to design and deliver student-centered project-based learning experiences with a STEAM focus, using a methodology developed by our group. We are studying the effectiveness of this training with educators, the impact on student learning and dispositions, and the structures that need to be put in place for this program to be sustainable and scalable.
We collect data from both teachers and students. Teachers report on their classroom practices and their perceptions of students' dispositions and performance. Students report on their beliefs about themselves and their school experiences before and after the projects.
Data collection is through surveys, sample work, and interviews with teachers as possible.
Student responsibilities:
Hours: 4 - 8 / week
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu
Description: Analyze data from a recent teacher training program and create/lead the research for the Fall 2021 program.
At the Edgerton Center K12MakerLab we lead a teacher-training program where K12 teachers learn to design and deliver student-centered project-based learning experiences with a STEAM focus, using a methodology developed by our group. We are studying the effectiveness of this training with educators, the impact on student learning and dispositions, and the structures that need to be put in place for this program to be sustainable and scalable.
We collect data from both teachers and students. Teachers report on their classroom practices and their perceptions of students' dispositions and performance. Students report on their beliefs about themselves and their school experiences before and after the projects.
Data collection is through surveys, sample work, and interviews with teachers as possible.
Student responsibilities:
- Get familiar with the essential practices in STEM/Maker education promoted in our Maker Methodology
- Analyze existing data (data is in Spanish, and can easily be translated), document results, and assist with articles for education journals
- Create new surveys and research instruments
- Conduct interviews with educators (as possible)
- Analyze new data from program in Fall 2021, document results, and assist with articles for education journals
Hours: 4 - 8 / week
Compensation: Credit or Pay at $14.25 / hr
Contact: Diane Brancazio, Instructor, MIT Edgerton Center dianeb@mit.edu