Mike Bycraft's Classrooms
My name is Mike Bycraft.
I am an international educator who specializes in design, robotics, engineering, and makerspaces. I am teaching robotics, design, and makerspace at the International School of Bangkok, where I've worked since 2023. Before moving to Bangkok, I was working at Korea International School from 2015 to 2023.
Prior to moving internationally, I taught AP and IB sciences in the United States, in Clark County School District from 2006.
I have created design programs, makerspaces, and robotics curriculum for K-12 students.
I am interested in student directed classes, design thinking, tinkering, creating student focused makerspaces, microcomputers, laser cutting, and facilitating students using robotics.
I wrote an article about teaching failure successfully in the classroom for EdSurge. Please check it out.
My Learning2 Talk:
Weirdness is a Lot of Things
Science field work in China as a teacher researcher, 2013
PIRE Research
Sitting on my throne in the makerspace, 2018
My students were challenged to create a cardboard chair with no tape, glue or adhesives.
Our HS STEM Suite, built 2017
This space houses our design, digital fabrication, robotics, AP Comp sci, graphic design and yearbook classes.
Our MS Makerspace, built in 2016
This is the physical fabrication area and MS makerspace. Students from multiple grades use the room and tools. I also teacher my maker classes from this room.
My Teaching Philosophy:
The design process is the learning outcome.
Each thing we build should be functional, purposeful, and educational.
Failure is an important part of the learning process.
Build more cool stuff.
A student testing their balsa wood bridge, 2016
My physics students built a 3 meter trebuchet, 2013
My students and I launched a GoPro, a gator, and a GPS into the stratosphere (120,000 ft), 2015
Teaching physics while laying on a bed of nails, 2014