Adaptable Maker Projects for Academic Classrooms [VIDEO]

Diane and Justin traveled to Maker Faire Bay Area 2024 where we exhibited our DIY Pinball project, took in all of the Maker mayhem, and gave this talk on adaptable Maker projects.

Maker projects can engage students and improve learning experiences in K-12 academic classes.Integrating open-ended, hands-on, creative activities with cool tools in an academic classroom helps students develop tech skills, make personal connections to the content, formulate and resolve their own questions, and express their learning.

Maker projects also reduce barriers to students taking STEM classes and pursuing a technical career path by giving them skills and familiarity with current technologies.

The K-12 Maker team from the MIT Edgerton Center supports teachers in bringing these experiences to their students. Explore our resources on how to get a maker culture going in school. Along with sample projects we will focus on project design, teacher practices, and makerspace setup.

The K-12 Maker Lab at the MIT Edgerton Center prepares teachers to lead engaging and relevant learning experiences, giving their students the tools to create, the courage to fail, and the empathy to solve problems as a community. We offer professional development workshops and free online resources.