I started off this fall by reading the book, Invent to Learn by Sylvia Libow Martinez & Gary Stager. From this book, I gained a better understanding of the mentality of this movement. The emphasis on inquiry and curiosity is what really sparked my interest as a science teacher. There were so many resources and ideas shared in this book, I really lucked out that this is where I began my journey.
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Also, I visited the Milwaukee Makerspace on a quick field trip. It is a great resource for the Milwaukee community. It is a huge space designed to provide members with ample resources and a space to collaborate and create. There are about 200 members that share their talents and resources in this space.
In Milwaukee, the variety of resources available, and the community spirit made this a place to empower makers. Everyone in this space shares materials, ideas, and knowledge which is vital for nourishing the maker spirit. |
This spring, I checked out the Cedar Rapids Mini Makerfaire, housed at the new Cedar Rapids Makerspace. It was a showcase of efforts and passion projects that included students’ efforts. It was interesting to see the products that students and people have created based on their imagination and improved by their prototypes. This new space is a great opportunity for the Cedar Rapids community to tap into their inner inventor.
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I know that schools are starting to take steps towards creating makerspaces in schools. What is your school doing? How are you encouraging your students to be makers? Post a comment and let us know about your makerspace dreams or how it is starting to become a reality. We’d love to learn more about what you are doing!
We are continually working to understand the maker movement, follow our Makerspace Flipboard to find more resources about makerspaces.
~Amber Bridge, Technology Consultant
@abridgesmith
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