Maker Learning is a powerful form of learning where students construct their own knowledge through hands-on thinking, making and doing. It is deeply rooted in the progressive educational theories set forth by Dewey, Papert, Piaget, and Vygotsky among others. In practice, Making is student-centered, giving them the proper time and conditions to build an understanding of the world around them, develop valuable intangible(soft) skills, and forge connections to the content learned in the classroom. Maker Learning activities are empowered by an increased access to technology and tools that allows amateurs and experts alike to build in ways that may not have been possible previously.
Through Maker activities, students learn to realize their ideas, tinker with materials, and build what is referred to as a Maker Mindset. The Maker Mindset values playfulness and experimentation, creativity, iteration, critical thinking, collaboration and community engagement as ways of learning growing and connecting. Schools and institutions around the world are realizing the impact Making has on student learning, including increased engagement in core content areas. Maker Learning is essential to equip students with the skills to learn, adapt, and create with others in our rapidly changing world.
In this two day workshop, participants will discover what it means to be a Maker through hands-on Maker activities and understand the impact Maker activities have on student learning. Participants will learn ways to develop a Maker Mindset in their students, see examples from classrooms and makerspaces globally, and develop a learning activity that they can bring back to their institutions, schools, and classrooms.