Makers in Education--Georgia STEM Forum

With Kim Moore

Georgia STEM Forum 2016

What is the Maker Movement?○Do-It-Yourself (DIY)○Shift from consumer culture to

producer/creator culture○Connect physical and digital worlds○ Ingenuity and creativity ○Building community - skills taught

and learned; ideas and projects shared

Maker Faire

○“Making” stimulates interest in STEAM by tapping into natural curiosity and interest.

○Result is a work force more adequately prepared for the jobs of the future.

○This benefits not only the students, but it also benefits our communities.

○Maker Spaces encourage innovative thinking.

Making Then…

Making Then

Making Now…

Making Now

What is a Maker Space?

What does a Maker Space do?

○ Maker Spaces provide the space, tools and materials to facilitate hands-on projects.

○ These spaces allow makers (students) to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering, creativity and tinkering.

Maker Spaces Teach Problem Solving

○ Maker Spaces place students in situations that require application of what they know and are learning.

○ Maker Spaces require students to apply typical “Scientific Method” or “Engineering Process Method” in order to design, create and improve what they make.

○ Students will gain real experience using these skills in “real world” situations and will be “rewarded” with real products they have created.

Maker Spaces = (tools + materials + makers) x (maker

mindset)

Most Importantly…Maker Spaces encourage and nurture a “maker” mindset○ Creativity○ Perseverance○ Engineering○ Curiosity○ Failure○ Collaboration

The “Maker” Mindset• Needs Faculty leadership, Administrative

support• Build a culture of invention and

experimentation. • Failure is not only an option, it is expected!• Teachers may have to give up some control –

Maker Spaces are very active learning environments

• Teachers should be comfortable with not having all the answers and with not being the “expert”. Model how to find the answers!

• Students will drive the classroom and may learn from each other as much as they learn from the teacher.

Developed by J.P. Guilford in 1967, the Alternative Uses Test stretches your creativity by giving you two minutes to think of as many uses as possible for an everyday object like a chair, coffee mug, or brick. (or paperclip)

Here’s a sample brainstorm for “paper clip” uses:• Hold papers together• Cufflinks• Earrings• Imitation mini-trombone• Thing you use to push that emergency restart button on your router• Keeping headphones from getting tangled up• Bookmark

The test measures divergent thinking across four sub-categories:• Fluency – how many uses you can come up with• Originality – how uncommon those uses are (e.g. “router restarter” is

more uncommon than “holding papers together”)• Flexibility – how many areas your answers cover (e.g. cufflinks and

earrings are both accessories, aka one area)• Elaboration – level of detail in responses; “keeping headphones from

getting tangled up” would be worth more than “bookmark”

• Empower students to become innovators and technologically proficient problem solvers

• Ensure that all students have access to the appropriate technology conducive to enhancing their learning experiences both in and outside the traditional classroom

Georgia STEM Goals

○ Increase student 21st century skills and technological literacy by providing students with opportunities to use the technical tools of the STEM industry

○ Nurture partnerships that allow schools and the business sector to join efforts to improve students’ STEM-career opportunities

○ Increase the number of students pursuing careers in STEM-related fields and/or post-secondary STEM related education/training

Georgia STEM Goals

Challenges• Funding • Space• Logistics• Project planning• Integration with

Curriculum• Mindset/Culture

Space for a Maker SpaceSchool Maker Spaces – can be set up in:○Media center○Unused classroom○Art room○Science classroom○Mobile space on a cart○Center or Station within

a classroom

Funding Our school started a Maker Space with no money

Ask teachers for old

art/craft materials or

teacher supplies

Donation Drive – old/broken electronics to take apart, scrap wood, tools, other materials

○ There are many projects that can be done for little or no money

○ Create engineering “challenges” using recycled/repurposed materials

○ Leftover laminating film, cardboard boxes, toilet paper tubes, bottles/cans – get the custodial staff on board to help with “collecting” materials.

○ Our entire staff has been great at spotting potential items for our Maker Space.

Potential Funding Sources○ Grants - could be

community based or through other entities

○ Kickstarter or Donors Choose (www.donorschoose.org) – crowdfunding

○ Approach local businesses and other organizations for sponsorship donations (money or in-kind)

○ Fundraisers – Students can make items to sell in the school store or at school festivals/events

Logistics – How does the Space Operate?

○ Club model – groups of students meet before or after school

○ Electives/Connections/Specials class – meets during non-academic class time, courses can be designated as a STEM class, Technology/Engineering class

○ Academic STEM class (emerging model)○ Classes use the Maker Space as a resource as

they would the Media Center or Computer Lab. This requires more training in order for teachers to feel comfortable using the tools and materials. The school needs a point person responsible for scheduling, training and maintaining the space

Project Planning○ Independent projects (more advanced

students)○ Projects based on learning a tool or

technique (3D design, woodworking tools, soldering) where individuals are each working on the same activity

○ “Challenges” to build something using limited materials and time

○ Whole Group Projects - individuals contributing to a larger project

○ Event/Contests – Robotics Leagues, Science Olympiad, Beta Club

Integrating with Curriculum○ Planning and flexibility are key○ There are many projects that can be easily

adapted to suit standards○ Projects may take more time to complete

than traditional teaching (lecture/notes/activities) because they require students to learn as they go.

○ Choose projects that can cover several standards at once.

○ Consider scheduling projects as a mid-term or final as a culminating activity

○ Interdisciplinary projects can work very well

3D Printing/Prototyping -  Use 3D Printing to teach:○ 3 Dimensional Geometry○ Engineering – how to design using software○ Measurement, understanding how a 3D printer works○ Chemistry – properties of different types of filament

and their uses, properties of other modeling materials such as Shapelock, Sugru, latex, polymer clay

○ Following directions○ Tinkercad.com

Hand Tools/Woodworking -  Use woodworking to teach:

○ Measurement○ Geometry – cutting angles using a mitre box,

creating 3 dimensional objects○ Simple Machines – using hand tools and power

tools and understanding they are made of simple machines

○ Engineering – designing and building, choosing appropriate materials and fasteners for designs

Electronics - Use Electronics to teach○ Electricity – currents, voltage, amperage, circuitry○ How different types of matter can be conductors,

insulators or resistors○ Mathematics – calculating the voltage, resistance, etc.

needed for a circuit and components to work○ Engineering – designing electrical circuits to power

different components○ Magnetism – using electrical current to create a

magnetic field (electromagnet, solenoid)

Textiles - Use Sewing to teach:○ Geometry -using quilting patterns○ Electrical Circuits -using conductive thread and

sewable circuit components like Lilypad○ Engineering -understanding how a sewing

machine works, how different fabrics are made and how they behave, understanding how patterns are created and engineered to create garments and other items

○ Chemistry – understanding different types of fibers (man-made and natural), studying polymers that create synthetic fabrics

○ 2D and 3D design and pattern making○ Measurement○ Following directions○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk3kNnHZdl0

Recycled Materials - Use recycled materials to teach

○ Environmental Science – what happens to our trash

○ Chemistry – properties of different types of plastics and how they can be recycled or re-used (for instance, plastic No. 6 shrinks to 1/3 of its size when heated)

○ Engineering – using scrap or recycled materials to create new objects

○ Measurement○ Geometry○ Simple Machines – build simple machines from

scraps○ Forces, Motion and Energy – build roller coasters

using scrap materials to teach potential and kinetic energy, friction and motion

Interesting Materials and Tools○ Thermochromatic Pigment○ Ferro Fluid – can be made from old VCR

tape○ Paintable Circuts (uses conductive

paint)- similar technique is also used to screen print circuits for things like keyboards

○ Google Cardboard ○ 3D Hologram Effect Viewer○ Makey Makey – Turn almost any

conductive material into an input device for a computer

Resources• Local Maker Spaces• Other Teachers - in

Robotics, Industrial Arts, Fine Arts

• Parents• Community

Members/Businesses

• MakEdu.org

Running the Space• Supervision • Scheduling • Purchasing the

right tools and equipment

• Training and careful supervision of tools

Best Practices• Get the minimum

gear• Create achievable

projects for students/faculty

• Actively share with the community to build awareness and enthusiasm.

What a student “Maker” looks like:

When student Makers grow up:

For more Information and Links to Resources:Southern Fried STEM

[email protected]

[email protected]

southeastmakersalliance.orgperfectionlearning.com

fieldtripzoom.comsumorobotleague.com