Category: Cohort 2 Fellows

Designing for Constructionism and Learner Autonomy

Every learner deserves a space to go to every day that will expose them to the beauty of the world and the intrepid explorer that they truly are. How can learning spaces cultivate this goal while encouraging constructive autonomy in the youngest of learners? Two spaces that I have had the pleasure of visiting have… Read more »

Before Making there is a Mindset

My kids make stuff.  They’re not geeks, they’re girls.  Sure they know how to make an LED light up, run a laser cutter job, yep.  Yet, even with all of this, their go-to material is still paper, and tape –lots of tape. I think we may be making making too complex. For years I taught… Read more »

Constructionism, a Learning Theory and a Model for Maker Education

In response to a literal call for #HELP on Twitter, I pulled together  three blogs from various resources. This is blog 3 of 3 to help construct my own knowledge on the topics of making in schools and the two learning theories constructivism and constructionism.  Constructionism, a Learning Theory Centuries in the Making Standing on a foundation… Read more »

Constructivist Science

In response to a literal call for #HELP on Twitter, I pulled together three blogs from various resources. This is blog 2 of 3 to construct my own knowledge on the topics of making in schools and the two learning theories constructivism and constructionism.  Constructivist Science The idea that each individual should learn through direct experience rather… Read more »

Where Art and Design Education meets MakerEd

Making knows no boundary between discrete disciplines in education. As innovation programs facilitate skill sharing and as makerspaces and fab labs become more common in schools, art programs can access exciting new tools for self-expression and design. At the recent NAEA Conference in Chicago, the volume of STEAM and makerspaces sessions was a testament to the growing knowledge base… Read more »

The Science of Design, Hillbrook’s Spring Hard Problem 2016

Hillbrook’s 5th grade, the class of 2019, has embarked on this year’s spring hard problem, a semester long deep project in science that addresses rigorous research practices, as well as a challenging engineering and design prompt. What makes the spring hard problem so hard? In the spring students are asked to apply everything they have… Read more »