Our mission for our 21st century chat is to create a positive 21st century learning environment for our students by sharing resources and ideas that has worked in our classrooms. Join us every Sunday from 8:00-9:00 PM (EST) on Twitter using the hashtag #21stedchat. All are welcome!
While anyone can create a makerspace, there are critical attributes that set apart makerspaces, and GREAT makerspaces. When we integrate these attributes, we create exponentially powerful learning environments. https://t.co/6VUR7NDTGZ#21stedchat#makingGREATmakerspaces
Before we begin I would like take a minute of personal privilege. My father died last week at age 97 & 11 months. I wrote this for him 3 years ago. https://t.co/T7HaymHv4q#21stedchat
A1. Multiple ways but we mainly offer professional learning experiences so educators understand how they can incorporate them into their classroom/school. #21stedchat
A1: I see the stare of the Maker Movement and Makerspaces slowly evolving compared to education practices inside some school facilities. I'm hoping in the future as educators we can adopt these spaces more into the classroom #21stedchat
A1 we are at a crossroads. #makered is about the freedom of discovery. And the sharing of what is learned. School are building #makerspaces and then placing constrains in what can be done. Teacher are doing PBL and calling it Maker. #21stedchat
A1 I’m ready for K-12 making to be less about trends and kits and more about the students/ issues in the room. I know this is already the case in so many places #21stedchat
A1: I love the idea of bringing this type of ingenuity to kids of younger ages to make them more comfortable around tech as we progress rapidly in technology.
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I completely agree! The way the education system has been working currently has demonstrated a massive reduction in progress when it comes to creating makerspaces. #21stedchat
I think the maker movement would be helpful with getting children used to the idea of having technology in their lives since it is becoming more and more prevalent in education. #21stedchat
A1 there is not enough writing and recording being done in the #makerspace we need students to understand the why in the choices they maker and what opportunities come from those choices #21stedchat
I see maker "making" it's way into schools. However it is at a slower rate then what would be expected and it isn't handled in the right manner in a lot of schools. I do see maker benefiting students though and helping them discover what they like. #21stedchat
A1 #makerspace has become one of the dreaded buzzwords where a school will take any size space and convert it. Spaces need to be bigger to invite more that one class to create. Silos still exist if one one class creates. #21stedchat
But the in classroom maker boxes are becomeing too focused. Needs to be much more variety in material and tools for students to choose from #21stedchat
R1: In the schools where the movement has been developed I find that there's been drastic improvement in student effort and participation, I am eager to see more makerspaces in larger, more urban school districts #21stedchat
A2: My definition of "making" is students putting in their own original ideas into concepts that have already been completed and improving them while also finding out more about themselves as people in a larger society. #21stedchat
A2 making is the combining of two more more knowledge streams using the best tools and materials available to create a new construct that represents the new vision #21stedchat
A2 making also needs to include the sharing of what is learned. We need to start having students write tutorials and keep project logs for other to improve upon #21stedchat
I like your response since it involves the thought that students can make things by not using technology or even physical material, but with the power that they hold within themselves! #21stedchat
A2. A Makerspace is a learning environment where everyone can discover, collaborate, and create things. It is not defined as a certain space but rather a mindset of design thinking, exploration, experimentation and tinkering. #21stedchat
A2: Making is when someone thinks up an idea and tries to make it real and even if they fail in making it the first time they learn and go back to the drawing board to make it even better. #21stedchat
R2: I would say that "making" is the creation of something original, that has value to either the student or the learning process in general #21stedchat
A2 I’m gonna go with Jay Silver and say it’s “not just about what we make but the meaning we make” #notanexactquote. Kids have to see the point. #21stedchat
A2: Making is using creativity to come to meet a certain objective. However< I believe we should start the shift more towards tech as students get older.
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My only push back would be on the "original" piece. Sometimes making is taking something already created and repurposing, redesigning or innovating in a new way. #21stedchat
The problem with this is that most people assume the any innovation has to include technology. Sometime improves come in the form of simple materials. We push tech way too often and it is harming the student’s design process #21stedchat
Or learning processes by copying something already designed to see where improvement is needed and skill building before going out on their own. #21stedchat
We need students to write what they learn. Technical writing is a skill that most students will need in the future. They also need to understand the why something didn’t work. To create just create is entry level making #21stedchat
Q3: Shop & home ec classes used to be required in schools - then were cut - is the maker movement a delayed response to losing these and are T's sufficiently trained in the processes required to help student be successful? #21stedchat
My philosophy is to present it to all but realize it will likely connect with few. I focus on the few and build from there. Not all kids will be into all maker activities I offer. #21stedchat
In reply to
@nathan_stevens, @LFlemingEDU, @dprindle
@aasl National School Library Standards are broken into domains of Think, Create, Share, Grow- it makes sharing and growing through it a natural response to making #21stedchat
In reply to
@nathan_stevens, @stumpteacher, @dprindle, @aasl
I am more simplistic in my approach. I expose kids to opportunities to make and run with it. I try to make it equitable in terms of making it open and accessible to all kids. But realize it won't work for all. #21stedchat
We use those as well as the @iste standards. But to be honest, the standards are largely used to justify the work to admin, not always guide the work of teachers. :) #21stedchat
In reply to
@kapjohnson, @nathan_stevens, @dprindle, @aasl, @iste
A3 not really. Teachers have always been doing some form of Maker in there classrooms. Before the teacher was the decision maker and now the process and descisions have been passed down to the students. #empower#21stedchat
A3: I don't believe that the maker movement is quite a delayed response in a manner, instead I believe the timing is great for reviving these programs. I think teachers are sufficiently trained in these processes that are required to help students succeed. #21stedchat
A4: Every makerspace should be unique to their school community, from the vision to the execution. It is impossible to determine an accurate and appropriate answer to this question, because of that. #21stedchat
But how are we getting students to share. It needs to be outside of the walls of the classroom or library. Part of being career and college ready is helping students develop their portfolios #21stedchat
In reply to
@kapjohnson, @stumpteacher, @dprindle, @aasl
A3: I think that we recognized that Shop class was not for everyone and that the maker movement made it more abstract so that students didn't have to be reduced to just one idea. I can not say that teachers are not equipped because it varies from school to school. #21stedchat
This is a great response! I found it difficult to use the characters given to summarize my belief, but you did it perfectly within this tweet! I like how you mentioned that students now have this decision. #21stedchat
A3: I think that the maker movement is very similar to the shop and home ec classes that used to be required. I think the maker movement just sort of takes the idea to the next level. #21stedchat
In my creative/maker framework, the first part or step is to allow students to explore. Knowing what a tool will do or not do is just as important as creating something #21stedchat
R3: I would say that both Shop and Home-ec had specific skill sets that they tried to teach; as I see it, modern 'makerplaces' have a much stronger emphasis on independent learning, rather, that modern students learn skills independent of each other #21stedchat
For sure. When I get something new, I just toss it to the kids to figure out. Then we run from there and see how we can connect to content or curriculum. Explore is always step one. #21stedchat
A3: I feel that maker has always been in the classroom in some shape or form. This is due to many teachers being crafty themselves and implement that in their classes. I feel that teachers are trained, but I feel some times that training is lost to some teachers. #21stedchat
Q4: I don't see much "making" in HS if does happen it is in the visual arts classes, our CAD/CNC class and electric car. We are so focused on the tests...no time for making in others. So is making more K-6. Discuss #21stedchat
A4. No way, the problem is many HS teachers don't have an open mind about how makerspaces can work in their classroom. I do see a lot of awesome makerspaces in HS media centers. #21stedchat
A4: I don't believe so. As a secondary education major we've been taught ideas that help illustrate how HS students can create in order to help others learn whether it's board games towards movies created for classes. #21stedchat
A6 time and pace of curriculum is part of the dilemma. In the high school setting, content areas need to combine on activities to give students more time to create. My son’s high school has a project room with devices for students to create during lunch #21stedchat
Yes and no. I had kids wire up and make this awesome arcade controller. I took it apart at the end of the year. I wanted next year's kids to go through the process themselves and build it themselves. #21stedchat
A4B: Standardized test have killed some form of making within the HS level; however, teachers have found a way to work around this and incorporate making into their lesson plans for students who are creative (or not creative) and enjoy making things. #21stedchat
A4 I think that in high schools it's a lot harder to get students excited to "make" since at that point a lot of students are focused on getting good grades for colleges. Testing is very important to high school students in my opinion so I believe that making is lost.#21stedchat
That's very strange. When it came to my high school career we focused a whole bunch on creating projects like board games for English class to creating our own society in sociology. #21stedchat
A4: As a recent high school grad I can say as much as I don't enjoy the testing I don't believe it's the issue. I see it more as teachers just don't really know how to implement it into their class. #21stedchat
R4: I do not think that making should exclusively be geared for younger students, but I imagine the emphasis on HS test taking is for students to move on to college, and most colleges, sadly, have yet to really consider creativity as grounds for admission #21stedchat
Some might argue that this isn’t making- more like taking notes and reorganizing them. There is very little risk in these activities, no new learning #21stedchat
In reply to
@BrandonKratz5, @DaggyAaron, @dprindle
That does make sense. We can get lost in the test scores and that can distract us from trying to making things fun or enjoying these fun things. #21stedchat
I didn't get it until I took a class @TuftsDevTech in early childhood tech. When I worked with the Ss at their ECE summer camp (2nd gr), the lightbulb went #21stedchat
A5. Help others see the importance and the why. For administrators/central office, remove any potential barriers and also work on the mindsets of staff. #21stedchat
A5 free your students to create. Combine content areas to give students more time. Think as a students, not as a teacher. Be a co-learner in the process #21stedchat
A5: As current/future educators I believe it is important that we encourage students within any subject level to be creative and make their own personal way to be creative. #21stedchat
A5: I think the problem is that some people want measurable results and some schools like mine do not adopt the movement. I think we need to create more awareness. #21stedchat
A5 be a model for others to see a process. When I am in a classroom, teachers and admins come I. And watch. They are amazed about how little direction I give for an experience #21stedchat
A5: I think that we can help move the maker movement forward by showing teachers how to incorporate "making" into the classroom. It would be nice to try and get away from so much focus on testing.#21stedchat
A5: By moving away from it being about the ‘stuff’ and to understanding that creating a unique learning environment, rooted in philosophy, data and best-practices, is what it is really about. https://t.co/mj3ZLxdMLY#21stedchat
A5: By giving teachers the training to bring it into their class. Many teachers would love to do it, but don't know where to start and by teaching the teachers to do this the students could truly benefit. #21stedchat
I like how you stated that we need to think as students and not teachers, because at times I believe we forget about this ideal as we move through further schooling and into new careers. #21stedchat
R5: Aside from using opportunities like this to communicate with our peers? I would say the movement is furthered mostly at the individual level. While there will always be a curriculum to adhere to, it's on us to find new ways to implement 'making' into our classes #21stedchat
I still remember when my boys were little and we got new patio furniture. They had a small "apartment complex" in our living room for about a month. They loved it. #21stedchat
A6: I feel like tonight there were dozens of takeaways from this conversation and some great discussion over how to improve the maker environment of classrooms. I think it would be beneficial to have a part two of this conversation next week as well! #21stedchat
A5 We in ed need to listen the expertise of local makers at all stages - not just to train us & mentors Ss, but to tell us what to buy and make a real “shop” or studio atmosphere - not too “nice” - I learned that from Mr Gray at @MakerspaceCLT thx to @LibLilC13#21stedchat
We need to promote those opportunities for students to be imaginative and have to problem-solve, not only with digital technologies, but also with our literal bare hands. #21stedchat
A6: I learned some interesting things to take into consideration as I study to become a teacher. Creativity is important to incorporate into the classroom setting as the maker movement becomes more and more prevalent within schools. A 2nd part would be great! #21stedchat
R6: I would love to have a part two to this convo, it would reinforce my takeaway that the 'maker movement' is best served when we discuss how to improve our classrooms together #21stedchat
