How might we best transfer the knowledge, skills, and mindsets associated with MakerEd?

 

 

Empathy:  I have the amazing opportunity to lead a "Making Makers" series in the new UMSL Collabitat.  About 15 students are enrolled.  To build empathy I sent a pre-course survey asking: 

-"In what setting do you plan to apply your learning from the Making Makers class? "

-"Making Makers will have been a success for me if . . .​":

I also asked participants to self-assess the skills associated with MakerEd (3D printing, design thinking, etc.)

 

Results show that the group is extremely varied in context and experience.  Participants range from informal science educators to leaders of professional development.  Their knowledge base of Makerspaces ranges from novice to expert.  This should be a fun time!

Ideate:  I spent 15 minutes brainstorming the outcomes and algined activities that might be helpful for building understanding in a 5-session course.

 

Prototype:  

 

Session 1 highlights design thinking as a framework for MakerEd.  (Photos) 

 

Participants will be able to:

-Recognize design thinking.

-Explain ways to implement design thinking in a school.

-Document learning with a digital portfolio.

 

To meet these objectives, I'm using some tried & true classics of Design Thinking.  The agenda is as follows:

 

-Participants will write five interview questions they would like to ask a classmate. Then they will interview that person and introduce zir to the class. This activity is a remix of this Name Tag Swap Activity.

 

-We will participate in the Marshmallow Challenge. Using 20 sticks of spaghetti, one meter of tape, one meter of string, and one marshmallow, participants will work in teams to build the tallest marshmallow tower. The entire marshmallow needs to be on top. More information about this challenge and the accompanying TED Talk can be found here.

 

-I will present the “State of MakerEd.”

 

-We will participate in the Stanford d.School Crash Course.

 

-Participants will make (or update) their portfolios.  Handout.  I recommend using wix.com, though any site is acceptable. The entry will be about a reflection about the d.School Crash Course experience. Here is my portfolio for reference as well as two of my students' portfolios. (1 and 2).  Turn in link is here.

 

Session 4 Links:

ePals Invent It Challenge Deliverables

ePals Invent It Challenge Exemplars

 

 

 

 

Test & Iterate:  I plan to validate the approach for session 1 via the products participants produce as part of their portfolios.  

 

Next Steps: