Attend
Exhibit
Creating Online: Virtual Play for Makerspaces |
Explore and create : Creation lab
Abbey Ramdeo
Creating hands-on makerspaces and incorporating maker education can seem daunting when facing challenges like tight budgets, limited materials or remote learning. See specific examples of how to overcome constraints to build inclusive makerspaces for all contexts. Leave with hands-on activities and ideas that leverage virtual makerspaces.
| Audience: | Teachers |
| Skill level: | Beginner |
| Attendee devices: | Devices required |
| Attendee device specification: | Laptop: Mac, PC, Chromebook |
| Participant accounts, software and other materials: | TBD - Tinkercad (https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard) |
| Topic: | Maker activities & programs |
| Grade level: | PK-12 |
| Subject area: | Science, STEM/STEAM |
| ISTE Standards: | For Educators: Collaborator
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When we think “makerspaces”, we might envision a tinker studio or fabrication facility in a university filled with tools and equipment. We might also envision students tackling engineering problems, and not necessarily computer science. While educators are masters at adapting, our setting, funding and resources mean that we cannot always recreate these cutting-edge spaces. However, makerspaces are really just creative environments designed to engage students in hands-on activities that teach 21st century skills - whether that be in-person or online. The goal of any makerspace is to foster innovation and creativity through hands-on experimentation. The maker mindset encourages process over product, allowing students to explore, create new things, or even improve things that already exist - and educators can apply this mindset when students make online.
This session will share hands-on lessons, innovative uses of virtual platforms, resources and ideas for educators to help them adapt their own lessons and virtual environments with the maker mindset. The goal is to empower educators with the information, ideas and tools needed to increase confidence in creating their own version of a virtual makerspace. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of the value of maker mindsets in teaching, as well as interactive activities that they can use in their classrooms when teaching students about maker education.
The purpose of this session is to demonstrate flexibility of maker ed activities and approaches in a wide range of environments - what does making online actually look like? We will work through hands-on examples using Tinkercad/Microsoft MakeCode/ Minecraft.
SETTING THE STAGE -
10 minutes: What is "maker education" - mix of slides, polls and jamboard to encourage discussion on making, design thinking, and participants' experience with these topics. We will also discuss the challenges experienced in making over the course of the pandemic and creative solutions to barriers (e.g., access to materials, being online).
INTRODUCING VITUAL MAKER ACTIVITIES -
30 minutes: Tinkercad Demo + Maker Activity Spotlight (live demo for participants, encouraging them to follow along, asking and answering questions in between). Sharing additional activities on other platforms for them to consider.
CONSOLIDATION -
5 minutes: Jamboard on ideas they came up with while playing with these platforms, answering questions.
- https://thelearningexchange.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/meaningful_making_en.pdf
- https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-thinking/
- https://ideas.demco.com/blog/8-ways-build-more-inclusive-makerspace/
Abbey is a graduate of the MT program at OISE where she had the opportunity to add to the literature on Antidiscrimination Education in STEM. As a female of color, her goal is to enhance representation, empower diverse learners and create a positive and impactful experience for all students in STEM education. This demonstrated passion about diversity, equity and inclusion informs her engagement with STEM outreach with UofT's Engineering Outreach Office (where she led the development of the 2019 Coding Program and 2020 Virtual Coding Program) as well as her contributions in projects as the Equity Education and Teacher Training Specialist for Actua.
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