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I have always imagined, designed, built, hacked, and tinkered in all kinds of media, but I didn't know it had a name until I bought my first ticket to the World Maker Faire in Queens, NY in 2008. Here was a community of thousands that tapped into its inner creative genius, both entertained and solved vital problems, and were open books when it came to sharing and encouraging. I felt increasingly that this was a mindset that could improve schools. Through working with students, staff professional development, workshops across the states, helping build over 20 makerspaces, and founding the Jersey Shore Makerfest, I have been an advocate for a maker mindset ever since.
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How to Incorporate a Maker Mindset in Classrooms and Homes
Using a maker mindset is many ways the opposite of a traditional lesson epitomized by the procedure driven and close ended science lab or the math-lesson-and-homework-practice pedagogy.
In the maker/PBL approach, students
identify problems themselves and bring their personal experiences and interests to bear
collaborate but are also able to express themselves as individuals (and can "enter" the activity at their own starting point, with support)
are not limited by specific and very finite materials, just as engineers initially consider all tools and materials when addressing a task
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