Deep Play Group Intro Video
Our Deep Play group seeks to understand MakerSpaces. As a group, we plan to visit a MakerSpace around town and I personally want to visit the Maker Lab at my school. Jeff Solin is somewhat of a guru in the Maker world and I cannot wait to talk to him and see what kinds of potential collaborations might be possible in the future. |
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Deep Play Group: Update 9/26/16
I had my first maker experience last week! My neuroscience students made neuron models using everyday objects. They also had to include a light up LED light in their designs. It was a very creative, fun day and the student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I look forward to the next opportunity I have to try another maker inspired project with my students. Our group has decided to read several books, one of which is Worlds of Learning by Laura Fleming. We decided to read different books so we can have multiple perspectives on the topic of Maker Spaces. |
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Update November 13, 2016
Yesterday our group had our book discussion online. I read Laura Fleming's Worlds of Learning and my group members read the Maker Manifesto. My book starts by talking about the maker movement and defining its goals and vision. It then talks about how to create a space at your school by first creating the culture necessary and then designing and implementing the space, while incorporating feedback from the students and experts in the maker community. There can be fixed and flexible stations. It then talks about the maker culture and the idea that risk taking and failure should be considered an integral part of implementation. It then talks about aligning standards (which I feel is the weakest point for the book because it is not content specific). Finally it talks about the expert maker and connecting learners with mentors in the community as well as updating the library to be a place of play and tinkering not just a reservoir of information. It also encourages teachers to showcase their students’ work and attend a maker faire. In order to make this a school wide change the book encourages getting the administration on board to trust the process and give you the freedom to try it out in your school. “If you build it they will come and if you let them build it they will learn.” “The role of the creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it is to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel they are genuinely valued.” Biggest takeaway- The idea that we are allowing students to think entrepreneurially and to see and make their own jobs and industries. Making them believe and realize they are capable of being a leader in the field with new, creative ideas is extremely powerful. |
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