Moodle and Web 2.0

New technologies are continually hitting the market. Educators are always looking for the next innovative thing to bring into their classroom. Some of them don’t stand the test of time, but others show tremendous potential. One such innovation that is perfect for the art room is the 3-Dpen. It’s not just another device, but it is a new sculptural medium.

Learn how you can use 3-D pens in your art room to encourage critical thinking and problem solving while creating.

Via John Evans

Makerspaces that are impactful are not a new idea, in fact, I have written before about this Maker Care program, created by Islip, NY Library Media Specialist, Gina Seymour.  Over the past year, I also have discovered the work of Steve Sostak and Aaron Moniz, of Inspire Citizens who through their Empathy to Impact approach, help infuse the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, global competence frameworks, and media literacy into project-based inquiry, design thinking, curricular standards, language objectives, and 21st-century learning. With their work in mind, I launched a makerspace initiative in Nigeria, Making the SDGs, in partnership with my friend and colleague, Jacob Sule, which aims to empower and support students/youths in rural Nigeria to help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, through a network of makerspaces.

Via John Evans, Yashy Tohsaku

This was a couple of years ago, when my kids were all still in elementary school, but since that time, I’ve seen this pattern more and more as they’ve gotten older: Every day, for the most part, information is delivered to them in some really basic way—usually PowerPoint—and the kids copy down what the teacher tells them to from the slides. Then they have some sort of worksheet where they’re basically regurgitating what was on those slides. After this cycle repeats four or five times, they have some kind of test. And that’s it.

This is not good. If we want our students to actually learn the facts and concepts and ideas we’re trying to teach them, they have to experience those things in some way that rises above abstract words on paper. They have to process them. Manipulate them.

To really learn in a way that will stick, they have to DO something.

Via John Evans

Banana pianos are awesome, but what about playing music with your feet?

Via John Evans

"Making is a dynamic and hands-on learning experience that directly connects with long-established theories of how learning occurs. Although it hasn't been a focus of traditional education or had a prominent place in the classroom, teachers find it an accessible, exciting option for their students.

The maker movement brings together diverse communities dedicated to creating things through hands-on projects. Makers represent a growing community of builders and creators—engineers, scientists, artists, DIYers, and hobbyists of all ages, interests, and skill levels—who engage in experimentation and cooperation.

Transferring this innovative, collaborative, and creative mindset to the classroom is the goal of maker education. A makerspace isn't about the latest tools and equipment. Rather, it's about the learning experiences and opportunities provided to students. Maker education spaces can be as large as a school workshop with high-tech tools (e.g., 3D printers and laser cutters) or as small and low-tech as the corner of a classroom with bins of craft supplies. Ultimately, it's about the mindset—not the "stuff.

In Learning in the Making, Jackie Gerstein helps you plan, execute, facilitate, and reflect on maker experiences so both you and your students understand how the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of maker education transfer to real-world settings. She also shows how to seamlessly integrate these activities into your curriculum with intention and a clearly defined purpose."

Via John Evans

What is a makerspace? What projects and materials do you recommend for a makerspace? Why are makerspaces becoming so popular in schools and libraries? These are just some of the questions we hear often. In order to help, we decided to put together a collection of our favorite makerspace resources and websites.

In this post, you will find over 101+ links to makerspace related articles, guides, checklists and more that will help you get started with hands-on maker education.

Via John Evans, Yashy Tohsaku

A great device for enhancing STEAM education, a 3D printer for school can be a powerful tool. Here's a collection of the best, from safe and reliable machines to those backed with an arsenal of supplementary classroom resources.

Via John Evans

I’ve been thinking about stages that I notice as students move from consumers of media to creators of media. I admit that this is not very scientific. There might be a better model out there that explains this phenomenon. However, here are seven stages I see students go through as they shift from consuming to creating:

Via John Evans