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MAKERSPACES AND DESIGN BASED & PROBLEM BASED LEARNING IN ACTION

  1. Reflect on these words and phrases: Makerspace, Maker Movement, FabLab, Makey Makey, Hackerspace. What do you think you know about them? If it's nothing, that's OK. Read on to find out....

    Information Source: http://wvhslmc.weebly.com/what-is-it.html Photo used under CC license Diane Horvath
  2. Watch these videos on makerspaces:

    Makerspaces and Design Challenges
    from Our Friend John Spencer
    https://youtu.be/PE3HUudpYeA
    		 A Full-Scale Makerspace-A-Palooza
    https://youtu.be/1epG-_HnTXk
    Cultivating Growth Mindsets in Classroom Makerspaces
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9k0Wykj1ao
    Fostering Inclusion With a Student-Designed Sensory Path
    (Problem-Based Learning Meets Design-based Makerspaces)
    https://youtu.be/EPko1KuLauI
    Full Article at:
    https://www.edutopia.org/video/fostering-inclusion-student-designed-sensory-path

Assignment:

  1. Create a new page on your website and call it Makerspaces.

  2. WATCH ALL OF THE VIDEOS - go ahead, they're interesting!
    1. Choose any one of the videos listed above and on your webpage, use the "Embed" option from the right side "Insert" menu to add the video to your webpage USING THE LINK under the videos above.
    2. Under your video, add a text box from the "Insert" menu and write YOUR OWN three sentence caption about what the video is about.

  3. Read this overview article about makerspaces and how to use them to support your curriculum and set up a mini-makerspace in your classroom.
    https://www.weareteachers.com/what-is-a-makerspace/
    1. Add a text box on your website and choose a standard from your grade level (any subject area). Copy/paste the standard and tell in three to four sentences how a makerspace could help your students meet a learning objective related to this standard. HINT: There are some examples in the article but come up with your own idea that matches your subject area standard.

    2. What would a mini Makerspace in your classroom look like? Digital or Vintage or a combination? Where might it be in the room and what would materials and resources would you include? (Make this a meaty paragraph)

  4. And lastly, write another *meaty* paragraph about your honest opinion of makerspaces and whether you think they are worth the time, effort, and money for students. You may also reference the video content you watched for this topic in your reflection, if you wish.

  5. MAKE SURE TO PUBLISH AND SUBMIT THE LINK IN CANVAS TO INDICATE IT'S PUBLISHED

IN A NUTSHELL THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THIS POST:

  1. An embedded video of your choice with a three sentence caption underneath.
  2. Robust narrative responding to the prompts above after reading the short article from We Are Teachers.
  3. A robust paragraph sharing your honest opinon about makerspaces noting the things in italics to include in your paragraph. TIP: Draw from the videos you watched.

    **For this assignment, a meaty, robust paragraph is at least 7-8 sentences. NOT 3-4 (those are wimpy paragraphs).

MORE RESOURCES RELATED TO MAKERSPACES

Look at this exhaustive list of resources, blog posts, articles, and videos from Edutopia:
http://www.edutopia.org/article/maker-education-resources

And this list of 10 Makerspace resources:
https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/maker-space-in-education-series-10-sites-to-start-making-in-the-classroom/

Check out these resources, too: