I wish that I could say that being a Maker has always been a part of who I am or that I grew up making and designing from a young age. I come from a creative family, but somehow I never put in the energy to continue my budding passions. It is funny how quickly life can change. As embarrassing as it is to admit, a year ago I did not even know how to spell circuit much less how to complete one.
The first time that I heard about the Maker Movement was a few years ago. A fellow teacher was telling me about how he was changing his mindset and transforming how he would be teaching his students. As he was describing the changes, I could feel my heart race. His ideas were profound and to be perfectly honest, they scared me. At the time I could not even imagine having my students do anything other than the controlled, hands-on activities that I taught. Yet, I was intrigued by the challenges that he was designing for his students. All year I wondered if he would be able to meet the goals that we had discussed on that warm August morning. Each after noon when we picked up our children from school we would discuss what we were teaching. We spoke often of our students’ successes and failures. It was infectious watching him describe his classes.
Last year my principal came to me to see if I would be willing to take over our GATE program. After reflecting on the potential challenges of teaching GATE, I went back to my principal and told him that I was not willing to take over that program, but I was willing to take over a new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program. Pulling from my friend’s experiences I wanted to have low-floor, high-ceiling activities. The only problem that I faced was that I had no idea where to begin, let alone what to teach for the whole year. It was sort of a big problem, but I knew that I ask my students to take risks and to challenge themselves daily. I ask them to be okay with failing and to not give up until they are successful. It was time for me to get uncomfortable and learn something new.
I had no idea what I was signing myself up for when I enrolled to be a part of the first group of teachers in the Maker Certificate program that was being offered through our local office of education and Sonoma State University. Really, I had no idea! I did not know how my parenting would change, how my teaching style would be affected or the confidence that I would gain. Making has changed me.
Over the course of this past year I struggled and I learned. I made ten batches of conductive playdough before I finally realized that lemon juice was better than cream of tartar. I went through an entire roll of copper tape trying to figure out how to get a silly LED to light up. Through reading and reflection I developed a Maker mindset. But, more than my own growth, I taught my students to embrace challenges and failure. They know how to iterate and attack a problem until it is understood and solved. Making changes everything and I cannot wait for year two!
I just want people to see that you can have zero experience with Making. If you have a willingness to struggle and you are open for a challenge, anyone can do this!
The first time that I heard about the Maker Movement was a few years ago. A fellow teacher was telling me about how he was changing his mindset and transforming how he would be teaching his students. As he was describing the changes, I could feel my heart race. His ideas were profound and to be perfectly honest, they scared me. At the time I could not even imagine having my students do anything other than the controlled, hands-on activities that I taught. Yet, I was intrigued by the challenges that he was designing for his students. All year I wondered if he would be able to meet the goals that we had discussed on that warm August morning. Each after noon when we picked up our children from school we would discuss what we were teaching. We spoke often of our students’ successes and failures. It was infectious watching him describe his classes.
Last year my principal came to me to see if I would be willing to take over our GATE program. After reflecting on the potential challenges of teaching GATE, I went back to my principal and told him that I was not willing to take over that program, but I was willing to take over a new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program. Pulling from my friend’s experiences I wanted to have low-floor, high-ceiling activities. The only problem that I faced was that I had no idea where to begin, let alone what to teach for the whole year. It was sort of a big problem, but I knew that I ask my students to take risks and to challenge themselves daily. I ask them to be okay with failing and to not give up until they are successful. It was time for me to get uncomfortable and learn something new.
I had no idea what I was signing myself up for when I enrolled to be a part of the first group of teachers in the Maker Certificate program that was being offered through our local office of education and Sonoma State University. Really, I had no idea! I did not know how my parenting would change, how my teaching style would be affected or the confidence that I would gain. Making has changed me.
Over the course of this past year I struggled and I learned. I made ten batches of conductive playdough before I finally realized that lemon juice was better than cream of tartar. I went through an entire roll of copper tape trying to figure out how to get a silly LED to light up. Through reading and reflection I developed a Maker mindset. But, more than my own growth, I taught my students to embrace challenges and failure. They know how to iterate and attack a problem until it is understood and solved. Making changes everything and I cannot wait for year two!
I just want people to see that you can have zero experience with Making. If you have a willingness to struggle and you are open for a challenge, anyone can do this!