Growing a MakerSpace

MakerSpaces are popping up in schools and libraries across the country. I think that this is an exciting trend.  MakerSpace presents opportunities for hands-on learning and active student engagement through design, engineering, creating, tinkering and repurposing.

When I came to Twining School last year, I proposed starting a MakerSpace in the building.  Shari, the building principal, gave the green light to get started and in essence lead the charge for creativity and innovation. I can clearly recall her words “Make it so.”  Then began the process of dismantling an aging computer lab and creating a learning space for students.  This fall we launched our MakerSpace and I look to help it grow!  

As we grow our space here at Twining, I’d like us to keep in mind the following:
Shari has embraced the motto that messy learning is good learning.  We are hoping that as students deconstruct, build and create, their imaginations will be activated and that the learning in our MakerSpace will be enriching and meaningful for students and teachers.

Good learning can be messy!

The idea of the orderly quiet classroom being the most effective classroom does not hold true.  Children learn by doing and exploring, and this can be a messy process. MakerSpaces are active learning spaces where students have the freedom to create new things, using tools such as paint, cardboard, wooden shapes, Lego pieces, iPads, robotics and hundreds of other materials. 

We are given permission to...

Here at Twining, we have permission to try new things. Uncertainty and failure are huge risks for teachers to take in the MakerSpace, and we are supported to take these risks.  We are also given permission to bring forth new ideas, recommendations for materials and supplies for the space.

Be a Learner

As teachers, we need to model what it means to be an active and engaged learner. I know that “lifelong learner” is a bit of a buzzword, but it’s an accurate description of a quality we want to instill and nurture in our students. In a MakerSpace, the learning is never-ending. There is always a new skill to learn, a new person to connect with or a new challenge to tackle. If we want the students and teachers in our schools to fuel their curiosity, then we need to jump right in and get involved.

Don’t know how to code? Learn with your students. Accept that learning new skills is a part of the job and that it’s important to share with others.  Reach out to your colleagues and learn together, perhaps co-plan and teach a lesson in the MakerSpace with your Curriculum Technology Partner.

Collect Resources

We do have some great resources in our MakerSpace.  But we could always add more!  Are there items laying around your home or garage that could be used in our MakerSpace?

Ideas:
Hot Glue Guns
Hot Glue Sticks
Cardboard
Wood pieces
Yarn
Old craft supplies (pipe cleaners, beads, wire, bells, fabric, etc)
Old building materials (K’Nex, Lincoln logs, legos, etc)
How to books (Origami, knitting, etc)
Paper
Paint
Brushes
Glue
Markers
Items for creating, tinkering, building, crafting, etc

We can also consider the following questions to help find resources:

·       Are there community members who will donate tools and materials?

·       Is there a granting agency (Donors Choose, etc)?

·       What skills and expertise can parents share in the MakerSpace?

·       Who might you partner with to support the growth of your maker learning?

·       Are there organizations or companies that would be willing to partner with you or donate to maximize learning?

Come check out our space

Our MakerSpace has just started, consider the ways that you will foster the innovation and creativity happening in your space.  What talents or materials do you have to make the space better?  Are there colleague partnerships that can enhance student experiences?  Have you visited with your Curriculum Technology Partner about ideas for using the space to enhance student learning, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and FUN!

I believe in you!

One afternoon, I got a Facebook message from a parent of a former classroom student. Normally, I ignore these requests until the student has graduated, but since this mom was a room helper, I accepted the request. Moments later, I received a personal message with a letter attached.

I opened the message, and closed it again after reading the first part. I knew if I kept reading, I would likely be fighting off tears!  I opened it later when I was alone and read it.

This student written letter affirmed two things: first, children need adults in their life that care about them socially, emotionally, and academically. We must teach the whole child–not just the curriculum. Secondly, the letter was a reminder of how important it is to explicitly teach children how to cope with emotions and social situations. We need to model how to treat others, too, and provide a safe classroom climate to practice and discuss social and emotional issues.

BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. offer amazing resources to support social-emotional learning (see list below) in meaningful ways, while inserting some humor and whimsy. I love that I can easily embed the content into my teaching, using the movie as a springboard and the associated features and tools, like Challenges, Newsela articles, and Make-a-Map, to support learning, differentiate, or go deeper into a topic.

Social-emotional learning (SEL), according to licensed psychologist Jennifer B. Rhodes, is a “broad term referring to how students regulate their emotions, communicate with others, use compassion and empathy to understand the needs of other people, build relationships and make good decisions.” Over the last two decades, social-emotional education has resulted in improved academic performance, fewer conduct problems, positive social behaviors, and less emotional distress.

Meta-analysis of 213 rigorous studies and over 270,000 students demonstrated that students who received SEL instruction performed better than students who did not. The studies revealed an 11 percent gain on measures of academic achievement, and similar significant improvements in conduct and discipline, social behavior, and emotional distress.

BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. support the five SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The short movie length and lovable characters grab students’ attention while the variety of support resources engage students in the content, encouraging them to think deeply about the concepts.  

Be sure to check out the following BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. topics that support SEL:

BrainPOP

Back to School

Bullying

Cyberbullying

Getting Help

Online Safety

Stress

Faces

Peer Pressure

Setting Goals

Behavior

Conflict Resolution

BrainPOP Jr.

Determination

Bullying

Internet Safety

Anger

Divorce

Friends

*This is a version of the Blog I shared with BrainPop Educators earlier this month.

Mind-blowing Experience at Certified BrainPop Educators Summer Institute

In October of 2016, I became a Certified BrainPOP Educator (CBE).  This program recognizes teachers who demonstrate a mastery of BrainPop resources and notable creativity when using them to help students learn.

To become a CBE, I completed an online course with the BrainPOP Educators team, fulfilled supplemental requirements and participate in the global community of fellow certified educators – a forum for sharing the exciting things that students and educators are doing, and gathering other educators’ ideas and best practices.

I have had the opportunity to consult with the BrainPop production team, tried beta launches of new features and professional development. And in June, I was also honored to present at ISTE for the BrainPop Sprint Session (an Ignite like event where you have five minutes to share your integration story).

I have really enjoyed being a CBE and have developed a passion for mashing other resources with BrainPop.  In fact, that was the subject of my “sprint” at ISTE.  However, my best BrainPop memory to this date is the incredible honor to be selected for and attend the CBE Summer Institute in August. 

Through an interview process, nineteen CBEs were selected from around the globe and brought together for four powerful days of learning and sharing.  To say that we bonded immediately is an understatement.  I cannot begin to explain how this group of diverse, yet very like-minded educators connected and worked together to impact student learning using BrainPop resources.

We had the opportunity to hear a “sprint” from all attendees, broke into special topic groups ranging from Social Emotional Learning to Supporting ELs, spent time with Mitchel Resnick (founder of Scratch and author of Lifelong Kindergarten), learned more about professional development, completed an escape room experience and toured One World Tower. 

I am so appreciative of the learning, the resources I have been able to bring back to share with other educators (including a free year of Creative Coding for Twining School), and the life-long friendships and professional learning network created during my time in New York City.  I would also like to express my gratitude to the team at BrainPop for this life-changing experience.

DENSI 2018

In July, I had the privilege to attend my second Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute (DENSI) and Leadership Council Pre-conference. 

Over 150 educators, from 7 countries came together to explore resources, tools, and programs focused on leading and supporting teachers, media specialists, and instructional specialists through digital transition and enhancing student learning experiences. 

DENSI is residential-style event where I lead and attended workshops, learned from keynote speakers, the Discovery Education team, and my fellow Discovery Education Community members.

Again this year, I left energized, motivated and full of new ideas (yes, a little exhausted too).  My teaching has been greatly impacted by the amazing educators (#tribe) I spent the week with in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

It was a fantastic investment in my personal and professional growth.  Because of this week, I continue to learn, connect, collaborate, and share resources, ideas, and strategies with and from a community of growth-minded educators from around the world.

My top 20 memories from DENSI 2018 are:

·     Participating in the Leadership Pre-Conference

·     Blue Crew and being able to welcome and meet attendees

·     Leaning all things AI, AR, and VR from Hall Davidson.

·     Spending time learning presentation ideas from high energy Steve Dembo.

·     Working with digital tools to support student learning and creating models for other educators.

·     Sharing Flipgrid strategies.

·     Sharing #Snaps across the Curriculum

·     Exploring how digital media and tools can support differentiated instruction.

·     Exploring Merge Cubes.

·     Visiting the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Center where we took a behind the scenes tour of the rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtles.

·     Viewing the documentary Straws by Linda Booker followed by a Q&A with Linda!

·     Meeting the team from the Cucalorus film festival & studio for a Media Literacy Audio Workshop and working with team on film editing, sound strategies and techniques that teachers can bring into the classroom as the short films and learning strategies for using film in the classroom.

·     Learning from and presented Googlely Good Stuff with Jenn Hall and Jeremy Badiner

·     Mind-Hive discussions about Problem based learning and forming good questions.

·     Exploring Oppression and Hope

·     DENmazing Race

·     Name that Tune

·     DEN-fit

·     HyperDocs with Dane

·     DEN Celebration

Of course, there are so many more memories!  The week of learning eclipsed the cost of the plane ticket, was worth sprinting through airports, and coming home DEN tired. I so value this learning experience!  Thank you DEN for an amazing week that:  grew my mind, filled my heart and brought JOY to my soul.  I hope to repeat in this experience again next year!

My Reflection from ISTE 2018

My first ISTE Conference & Expo was a whirlwind of learning, sharing, and connecting with educators.  I enjoyed sessions, volunteering, presenting, meeting new friends and walking some serious miles!

Here are my top four takeaways from ISTE 2018 in Chicago:

Personalized learning is important! 

We know that each child is unique, and educators see ALL of the unique faces looking back at them.  The conversation about meeting students where they are to prepare them for THEIR future was loud at ISTE.  Students are standardized and we need to stop teaching and testing them as if they are. Throughout the conference, I saw great sessions on student passions, positive digital citizenship, supporting student creation, and so much more.  I more than ever am passionate about relevant educational experiences for each learner, not delivering content and covering what is on the pacing guide.  "We all have complex identities that should be valued and incorporated into education.”  (Credit: Luis Perez)

We are all learners!

When walking around an ISTE conference, the energy is palpable. Everyone is excited to be there, enthusiastic about learning, and driven by pure passion to do all they can for learners.  I needed a full week to process all the learning from my time at ISTE and will need even more time to comb through resources and ideas to “sharpen my tool” (Credit: Nadia Lopez) for the new school year.  I am also excited to share what I learned with you, my colleagues.  Please let me know how I can support you and your students this year and share my learning.

Always have a plan!

This conference is enormous!  I used the ISTE app and had several sessions listed for each day.  Lines are long and seating is limited.  You may not get into your first choice, so have a second or third.  Also, be aware of time!  There is so much to experience and do, so know when you need to get on the shuttle so you arrive to your session, make it to socials, get a good spot in line, and arrive to important events on time.  Also, don’t be afraid to leave a session that isn’t meeting your needs so you can find one that does.

Finally, present and volunteer!

You meet some awesome people, have some laughs, and stretch yourself as a learner when you take a risk to present to a room of colleagues or work at ISTE Central or a booth.  I absolutely enjoyed my time presenting to a full room on BrainPop Mash-ups in the Run With It session.  I also had a blast with the Flipgrid crew while volunteering in their booth sharing Flipgrid ideas.  And, being an ISTE volunteer offered me the opportunity to interact with hundreds of educators from all over the world.

I am only scratching the surface of my experience in this post.  It was a fantastic learning event and I hope to repeat it again next year at ISTE 2019 in Philadelphia.