Igniting Creativity Through the Maker’s Movement Denise Collins-Bennett Leaphart Elementary School

What is the Maker’s Movement? In the educational setting, a movement for schools to return creativity and hands-on learning to the classroom, a belief that learning should be active and with students constructing their own knowledge (Maslyk, 2016). In the real world setting, the Maker’s Movement is a belief that one can “Do It Yourself (DIY).” Individuals are becoming makers, tinkerers, creaters, not consumers.

I want us all to think about new and creative ways to engage young people in science and engineering, whether it’s science festivals, robotics competitions, fairs that encourage young people to create and build and invent—to be makers of things, not just consumers of things. --President Barack Obama

Did you know….. In a survey conducted with 1000 adults in 2009, results showed…. 58% have NEVER made or built any type of TOY 60% AVOID household repairs

Why is this important in our society today? “By 2018 there will be ½ million job openings in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Due to a significant projected shortage of qualified applicants, many of these will go unfilled.” --Stem Education News Making gives students: The opportunity for creativity and originality The opportunity to see the importance of perseverance through iterations The opportunity to give and receive feedback in the process

How do we develop a Maker Mindset? A Maker Mindset is a Growth Mindset! Give students permission to play and be creative Build Maker skills by allowing students to work on activities related to personal interet, choices, and passions. Reflect often—share, blog, keep a diary, create how-to videos Accountability—give students an opportunity to share their products, have a Maker Faire, gallery walk, demo to another class, etc. Highlight and celebrate learning to fail—discuss what doesn’t work and the new understanding that comes from that failure Utilize experts—bring in “experts” who can MAKE stuff, community partners, etc.

Let’s MAKE! Your Challenge is…. Build a vessel that can move across the room using air power. Use any materials provided to create a vessel that will move across the room using air power. Don’t forget FEEDBACK! After about 6 minutes, I will ask you to stop and give feedback to at least one other group. We will test our vessels after about 15 minutes.

Was it standards-based? 2.E.2A.3: Develop and use models to describe and compare the effects of wind (moving air) on objects Related Standards: 2.P.4A.1: Analyze and interpret data from observations and measurements to compare the effects of different strengths and directions of pushing and pulling on the motion of an object 2.P4A.2: Develop and use models to exemplify the effects of pushing and pulling on an object 2.P4A.5: Define problems related to the effects of friction and design possible solutions to reduce the effects on the motion of an object

How could MAKING be beneficial to the gifted learner?

Maker Resources MakerEd.org Makezine.com Renovatedlearning.com Inventtolearn.com https://www.edutopia.org/article/maker-education-resources STEAM Makers: Fostering creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom by Jacie Maslyk Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom by Sylcia Libow Martinez and Gary Stager Making Makers by AnnMarie Thomas Makerspaces: A Parctical Guide for Librarians by John Burke

Maker Resources Who to Follow on Twitter: @smartinez @kithub @alexis_invent @sciteach212 @instructables @LFlemingEDU @Make @garystager @makerspaces_com @MAKERSwomen @makerSylvia

Maker Resources Continued On Twitter, join the conversation! #inventtolearn #elemaker #dtk12chat #makerslowchat #makered #edtech #makerspaces #makersmovement #makermovement #designthinking #STEAM #making #DIY

Maker Resources & Contact Info Denise Collins-Bennett Leaphart Elementary School 803-476-4749 dcbennet@lexrich5.org