Content-Rich Makerspace Lessons
On this episode of the TechEducator Podcast, we discuss several things you can do in your school to create simple Makerspace projects. How can you make relevant and engaging content-rich makerspace lessons? Build great relationships so teachers feel free to collaborate. This and other (2 more) secrets of success in makerspace lesson design. Paper-Based Making While robots and 3D printers get most of the attention, we can all run a makerspace STEAM lesson (or 4) with just one sheet of paper. At Sam\u2019s\xa0 Challenge of the Week page you will find resources and guides for 4 making projects that only use paper.\xa0https://sites.google.com/echohorizon.org/maker/challenge-of-the-week. Getting the curriculum right in a makerspace is going to take time and relationships. This was a theme throughout the discussion Jeff, Rob and Sam all stressed the importance of relationships and how the makerspace should be seen as a value-added service provided to the teachers. The makerspace teacher is a pedagogy and prep wingman. This is the person that can help teachers level up an existing lesson, or pivot towards new standards in an engaging hands-on learning experience. The key is to work with other teachers on your site with interest in core content, be an asset to them. We talked about making in several different ways to support content area learning. Brian Brigg\u2019s favorite Makerspace Resources These activities were selected by Brian Briggs MC of the Check This Out podcast\xa0http://checkthisoutsite.weebly.com/\xa0These resources provide great lesson ideas and examples of meaningful integration. As you read through these you will notice that almost all of the work described is very collaborative. Many of the resources focus on the challenge of keeping the work engaging and relevant. If you only read one thing, read this book http://fablearn.stanford.edu/fellows/sites/default/files/Blikstein_Martinez_Pang-Meaningful_Making_book.pdf If\xa0you think Cardboard Armor could be fun, Check this Out https://www.edutopia.org/blog/content-rich-maker-project-sam-patterson Brian Briggs Bottom Five\xa0Resources http://worlds-of-learning.com/2017/04/04/box-approach-makerspaces/ http://statelibrarync.org/ldblog/2014/05/28/lsta-highlights-story-place-storytelling-maker-space/ http://renovatedlearning.com/2016/02/08/teaching-the-design-process/ http://ajjuliani.com/building-maker-spaces-vs-building-maker-culture/ https://www.exploratorium.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/2016_JulyAug_Dimensions_RyooKekelis.pdf