What do the students KNOW?
How are they feeling about making?
What piques their interests?
Do they prefer one form over another? Are they able to make sense about what they are making?
Do they have the vocabulary to describe their thinking about what they are making?
What questions do they have?
How can we build upon, extend and apply their knowledge in different contexts?
Courtesy of Angela Stockman: http://www.angelastockman.com/blog/2016/01/31/documentation-tools-five-considerations-for-a-just-right-fit/
Be open to the moment and look for the unexpected as that is where our students true assets lie. Pay particular attention to when things are going great .... and not so great in the makerspace and document what is happening.
Document the emotions students are experiencing in the makerspace - and how they are communicating with each other. How students are reacting to making are key indicators of not only the quality of the learning experience, but how it might need to be accommodated to better fit their needs. Paying close attention to how our students are feeling can also help disrupt assumptions we have about our learners and the experiences they are having in the makerspace.
Develop sustainable habits for documentation. This is something that I struggle with daily and have yet to figure out.
Parnell, W., & Bartlett, J. (2012). iDocument: How smartphones and tablets are changing documentation in preschool and primary classrooms. Young Children, 67(3), 50-57.
Tarr, P. (2010). Curiosity, curriculum and collaboration entwined: Reflections on pedagogical documentation. Canadian Children, 35(2), 10-14.