The Maker Movement is the term now used for creating inventors, designers, and tinkerers. In this innovation-driven economy, it is considered critical to America's future for our schools to create innovative thought leaders. Join us as we provide you with a springboard of Maker experiences to help you set up your own Makerspace in your school for young engineers, designers, and computer programmers! Start with low-tech Making options to help students get their creativity flowing. Then, learn how to introduce elementary classrooms to mechanical engineering by making squishy circuits with conductive Play-Doh and LED lights and then automate student inventions with MaKey-MaKeys. Using online resources and “unplugged” activities, you’ll learn the basics of computer programming and computational thinking as you design digital projects. Then venture into physical computing by exploring various robotics options for your students. There will be many exciting opportunities to share--both high tech and low tech--bring your thinking cap and be prepared to have fun inventing and making!
This course uses FlipGrid to help participants keep track of reflections and course projects. Access the Course Grids below: