I've learned a lot about myself during this time!
I've learned that I can't fold paper evenly, that sometimes unintended consequences of design can become quirks of use, that I need a clean and organized space to work, and that the art of play should be incorporated into every facet of life. I've also learned that teenagers are hilarious, complex, and truly wonderful beings. I'm sure I have learned more from them than they have from me, especially since I took them - unwittingly - on this journey to try new teaching strategies with me.
Working in the maker lab has been fun and eye-opening, at least for me. I had never worked with code, CAD software, conductive thread, and many of the other projects we worked on before starting this program at Adelphi. One of the main focuses of the lab was to garner a sense of design to apply to teaching STEM. Using art to incorporate everyday elements of life into STEM (ahem, STEAM) can make the learning content more challenging, engaging, and fulfilling for students.
I remember the use of models and visuals was extremely important to me, and I appreciate that it's still helpful for my students now. We spend a lot of time as educators attempting to make content more interesting and engaging, yet we often overlook that design is the best way to get there.
Now, I have the ability and resources to design models and apply them to my lessons for kids. We also reflected on the design process, and that's something I have been able to appreciate in my writing of lesson plans. We have a big idea, a question, a multiplicity of ways to get to the answer, and although finite, some amount of time to put in work and continue to test until we reach our final product.
I hope this has been as helpful for you as it has been for me. Thank you for looking!