Confession: We at EdSurge are a bit in love with what may be America’s favorite new pastime: making. Indeed, it’s been a busy two years since we published our first guide on making, during which makerspaces have spread into classrooms and curriculum far and wide. But for many, issues of budget and buy-in mean maker education is still far from mainstream.
To be sure, there have been changes in the Maker movement in the decade-plus since the first Maker Faires wooed a new generation of DIYers. Along the way, we’ve celebrated successes and asked hard questions. How can we help making become more equitable and inclusive? How can maker ed embrace traditional technology, including computer science? What are the benefits of a maker education, and how do we measure them? In this guide, we hope you’ll find answers to—or at least ideas about—these and other questions that explore the meaning of making.
We’ve also included tips and techniques for building and funding your maker program and honing your maker skills. You’ll learn how to do a lot with a little, and find inspiration for what’s possible—in a school district, college library, even on a bus. For those of you who’ve never been to a maker event—we’ve brought one to you. And if you’re an experienced maker educator ready to up your game, check out our roster of professional development opportunities.
At its core, making is about doing. So we've also made sure you can build something—sitting right where you are.
—Mary Hossfeld, Guide Co-Editor
Makerspaces: Building, Buy In, Funding and Furnishing
Learn how one underperforming school tapped into abundant resources—from neighborhood businesses to online networks—to build a model arts and tech program. Budget woes? The folks who founded the MakerBus describe exactly how to outfit your makerspace for next to nothing. Want to see what a makerspace on steroids looks like? Check out our photo essay of an innovative school where power tools are child’s play. Read about a school district that's infused making throughout.
Who Makes What: Equity, Access and Training
We've profiled the first maker certificate program of its kind, and assembled a list of other PD resources for teacher makers and would-be makers alike. You'll also find multiple perspectives on how educators can create more equitable maker communities that welcome a diversity of both students and teachers, specifically girls, women, and makers of color. Gary Stager's suggestion? Honor the industry's pioneers.
The Meaning of Making: Curriculum, Technology and Other Big Questions
Maker ed offers a whole new way for students to use technology. In fact, making is prompting many educators to rethink their approach not just to tech, but to teaching in general—in colleges and K-12 schools alike. We’ve rounded up a range of wisdom from maker big wigs, an award winning teacher, and even a student.
America's New Pastime: Fun at the Faire
Didn’t make it to Maker Faire this year? No worry, we’ve brought it to you. Better yet, learn how to launch your very own event. We've even got Faires by the numbers.
Maker Faire Multiplication
Professional Development Resources for Maker Educators
EdSurge and Maker Ed teamed up to create this list of resources for educators. Have other suggestions? Please leave them in the Comments section below, or tweet #edsurge. To dig deeper into maker PD, read Jessica Parker's article about creating Sonoma State University’s first-of-its-kind Maker Certificate Program.
Read
| The Growth and Development of the Maker Movement in Sonoma County Schools |
| Maker Ed’s Open Portfolio Project Research Brief series |
| Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making Stuff, by Curt Gabrielson |
| Maker Ed’s Youth Makerspace Playbook and the Makerspace Playbook, School Edition |
| Makerspaces: Highlights of Selected Literature |
| Agency by Design’s blog |
| Starting a Makerspace? Your Beginner’s Guide from Smith System |
Watch and Engage
| Participate in the National Week of Making, June 17-23, 2016 |
| Maker Ed’s teaser PD modules |
| Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Makeover Bootcamp Webinars |
| Maker Certificate Program’s YouTube Channel |
Enroll and Join
| The Art of Tinkering, Coursera MOOC |
| Design Do Discover (D3) Teacher Institute |
| Lighthouse Creativity Lab |
| Sonoma State University’s Maker Certificate Program |
| Tinkering School |
| USPTO, 3rd Annual National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM, and Intellectual Property |
| Opal School Summer Symposium |
| Project Zero at Harvard |
| Alameda County Office of Education’s Integrated Learning Specialist program |
| Maker Ed’s VISTA Project and Maker Corps are both actively recruiting for individuals to work with partner sites |
Do-It-Yourself (and Do-It-Together)
| Create and engage in your own maker projects with SCOE’s Make and Take workshops |
| Peruse Maker Ed’s resource library |
| Pick a project from The Tinkering Studio’s list |
| Host a virtual Maker Camp with the folks at Maker Media |
Conferences
| Constructing Modern Knowledge, July 12-15, 2016 |
| reMAKE Education Summit, August 3-5, 2016 |
| FabLearn, October 14-16, 2016 |