What do the experts say?
The Maker movement is a unique combination of artistry, circuitry, and old-fashioned craftsmanship. Certainly, learning by doing or "making" has been happening since our ancestors refined the wheel.
Don’t treat making as a sidebar to an already overtaxed curriculum. As you investigate the principles behind... making, you'll see sound research from many educators throughout history, including Jean Piaget who, in 1973, wrote: [S]tudents who are thus reputedly poor in mathematics show an entirely different attitude when the problem comes from a concrete situation and is related to other interests. Read the full edutopia article here: How the maker movement is moving into classrooms by Vicki Davis Today, the availability of affordable constructive technology and the ability to share online has fueled the latest evolutionary spurt in this facet of human development. New tools that enable hands-on learning — 3D printers, robotics, microprocessors, wearable computers, e-textiles, “smart” materials and new programming languages — are giving individuals the power to invent.
We’re not just talking about adults. Children of all ages can use these tools to move from passive receivers of knowledge to real-world makers. This has the potential to completely revolutionize education as we know it. And the movement has already begun. |
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Other educators that inspire usBrian and Wendy Smith have a huge selection of resources and ideas that we have connected to. They also offer workshops for schools and communities to share their knowledge and experience with the world.
"I want to make sure the tools we use connect beyond the digital world, to the real world." -Brian Smith Click on the image to visit Brian and Wendy's website to learn more |