Several recent books, essays, and research studies have examined maker education in the K-12 classroom. This article outlines several critical issues to consider when considering maker learning as a tool for connecting to students’ interests and passions and as a way to create an agile learning environment.
Maker education uses hands-on making to encourage the development of skills such as simply learning, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and innovation. These skills are necessary for students to become successful in the 21st century. Several studies have shown that maker learning can benefit students by stimulating interest and enthusiasm.
Making is a multi-dimensional process, so providing students with various learning materials is essential. Students should also try activities outside of their comfort zone. This will allow them to discover their passion.
One study compared student creativity in a maker activity to solving a real-world problem. The study found that while the maker pedagogy positively affected students’ creativity, the problem’s relevance did not.
However, the study showed that a maker activity could effectively motivate students to learn if paired with a real-world assignment. The research suggests that a maker activity effectively cultivates creativity because it enables students to develop and apply new ideas to solve problems.
The relevance of the problem is another essential factor to consider. When students are confronted with real-world problems, they feel more connected to them. Their feelings of relatedness lead to more effort and attention. They can better relate to the task and are more likely to seek advice and help when needed.
In addition, maker pedagogy has increased students’ engagement in math. By allowing students to take on a design challenge, they can feel like they are in a meaningful role.
Connecting to Students’ Interests and Passions
There are many ways to connect to students’ interests and passions. One way is to encourage them to talk about what they like to do. Another way to connect to student’s interests and passions is to allow them to co-develop the curriculum. This will help them gain ownership of their learning and learn to make choices about what they want to study. In addition, it will give them a chance to practice lifelong learning.
Another way to connect to students’ passions is to encourage them to participate in a youth interest group. These groups can enhance their sense of belonging and can teach them to advocate for causes they are passionate about.
Creating an Agile Learning Environment
Creating an agile learning environment requires an approach that prioritizes personal ingenuity and individualism. It also focuses on flexibility, speed, and collaboration. This education model has a lot of potentials to improve student learning outcomes.
Agile is a way of working that involves continuous feedback, constant communication, and iteration. This way, teams can continually adjust and make changes as they go. The concept also emphasizes a bottom-up approach, which is why it works well in the workplace.
Agile organizations constantly work with customers, partners, and other communities to improve their processes and business processes. They also collaborate with academics and government entities to develop new products and services. Learning and Development teams can use this approach to create and refine training quickly.
Also Read This: Is It Okay to Change Your Major in College?
Recent Books, Essays, and Research Studies Exploring Maker Education in K12
The internet is littered with hoards of research worthy of a mention, but a select few stand out. In a K 12 classroom, the challenge of incorporating technology into the curriculum is not a simple matter of ointment and nipple. A cursory review of the abovementioned list should provide hope for the aspiring kook. Here are a few of our favorites, categorized by subject.
The course covers the trifecta of educational technology: computers, internet, and wireless, and provides the oh-so-important opportunity for intrepid educators to test the proverbial waters. The course provides students with the tools to build the school of their dreams and, as the title suggests, to test the proverbial waters.
