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Design, Create, Innovate: Developing Your MakerSpace Programs

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Session description

This session will showcase program initiatives I run out of our school's Innovation Space. These include: Maker Mornings, Recess Workshops, MS Design Squad, ECP Tinkering Tuesdays, and Passion Pursuit After School Club. These programs empower students to explore, problem-solve, innovate, and lead.

Outline

The presentation will provide evidence of success with anecdotes and videos from students.
Content in the poster session will include visual infographics about specific programs, as well as examples of activities and lessons completed in each one.

Maker Mornings - Each morning before school the Innovation Space is open for a specific grade level. On the designated day, students have open lab time to explore new technology or concepts or work on an ongoing project.

Recess Workshops - Workshops are based on student interest in a specific technology. Each week, it is advertised what will be introduced (for example: Makey Makey), and students sign up for a 2 day workshop to learn, explore, and create with the tool.

MS Design Squad - In this middle school elective, students learn about the design thinking process and are presented with challenges to design for others. We look to our closest community (younger classes for example), we make connections with the broader community (e.g. local hospitals), and we explore global challenges. Through research and empathy, students are encouraged to define a problem, ideate solutions and create and test prototypes.

Tinkering Tuesdays - Each week a preschool class visits the Innovation Space to explore and tinker. Students are introduced to early coding skills, as well as presented with STEAM challenges to promote problem-solving and critical thinking.

Passion Pursuits After School Club - In this after-school club, student work on specific passion projects over the course of a semester and discover the technology tool that best suits their needs for creating and designing.

Opportunities to brainstorm ideas for how to bring these ideas back to their schools or districts will be given.

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Supporting research

Creative Confidence by David Kelley
Innovate Inside the Box by Dave Couros

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Presenters

Barri Gertz

STEAM Coordinator

THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL

Session specifications

Topic:

Innovative Learning Environments

TLP:

Yes

Grade level:

PK-5

Audience:

Curriculum Designer/Director, Librarian, Technology Coach/Trainer

Attendee devices:

Devices useful

Attendee device specification:

Laptop: PC

Subject area:

Interdisciplinary (STEM/STEAM), Technology Education

ISTE Standards:

For Students:
Empowered Learner

Understand fundamental concepts of how technology works, demonstrate the ability to choose and use current technologies effectively, and are adept at thoughtfully exploring emerging technologies.

Innovative Designer

Select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.

Computational Thinker

Understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.

TLPs:

Connect learning to learner, Spark Curiosity