The Curiosity Shoppe seeks through the reflective curiosity of like-minded colleagues to identify, investigate, and integrate into K-12 instruction the 'artifacts' (puzzles, games, Maker/STEM gadgets, research) that have potential to create deep, authentic, transforming, humane learning.
As such, those associated with the Curiosity Shoppe -- students, educators, parents, researchers, designers, inventors, collectors -- value dialogue in order to become more conversant with the human ingenuity dwelling within its artifacts.
The Curiosity Shoppe is nested within Glasgow Middle School, a cultural tapestry of 1950 students (6th - 8th grades) from over 50 countries. Glasgow is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) school within Fairfax County Public Schools (Virginia, USA).
The Shoppe's "student curators" (grades 6-12) organize, maintain, and investigate its 1000 'artifact' collection and incubates their use within classroom instruction and after-school clubs. The Curiosity Shoppe celebrates its 6th year of operation during 2019-20 as an inquiry-based resource center, having evolved from a prior 'makerspace' to include mechanical puzzles and 'thinking' games from many cultures. For over 5000 years puzzles & games have served as cognitive tutors of humankind.
The Curiosity Shoppe is grateful for the collegial dialogue & generosity of those in the puzzle, game, recreational math, and International Baccalaureate (IB) communities who have offered encouragement and crucial insights during its fledgling years. Special thanks go to: Nestor Romeral Andres (nestorgames), Doug Engel (puzzleATOMic), Dave Janelle (Creative Crafthouse), Kate Jones (Kadon Enterprise), Nicholas Philips (Affine Creations), Nonye Oladimeji (an IB Coordinator), Rob Stegmann (Rob's Puzzle Page), Robert Yarger (Stickman Puzzles).
A few others must be singled out for the extraordinary benefits that their websites blogs, and life's work & play provide to the puzzle & recreational math communities: Allard Walker (Puzzling Times), George Hart (GeorgeHart.com), Jaap Scherphuis (Jaap's Puzzle Page), Rob Stegmann (Rob's Puzzle Page).
The Curiosity Shoppe would not have been possible without the allocation of scarce and valuable space by Glasgow's past principal Penny Gros and current principal Shawn DeRose.
Dr. Heidi Dickens - is Administrative Director of the Blue Mountain School (Floyd, VA) and an instructor with the Lifelong Learning Institute at Virginia Tech. She has served as a teacher or instructional technology specialist between 1989-2014 in Virginia school divisions (Pulaski, Montgomery, Fairfax). Her passion is understanding the conditions/dynamics necessary for successful adoption of emerging technologies by leadership & teachers to enhance the quality of education. Heidi's instructional insights have informed the development of the Curiosity Shoppe since its inception. Heidi received her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from Virginia Tech.
Angela Jeter-Jones - is an IBMYP 'Design" teacher (FCPS) who has integrated Maker culture into her classes for several years. She has presented at conferences & Maker Faires on maker-education topics and coached award-winning STEM competition teams: robotics, 'Family, Career and Community Leaders of America' (FCCLA) teams.
Haseeb Kahn - is a "Student Curator" emeritus, having graduated from Justice HS in 2019. He was the winner of the 'Curiosity Shoppe Puzzle Master of the Year Award' (2015). During the 2019-20 academic year he will be attending George Mason University. He is a 1st Lieutenant & Squadron Commander in the Civil Air Patrol, having won 'Capitol Region' Officer of the Year (2017). Haseeb is the founder of AquaEffort, a non-profit organization providing fresh water to Third World villages and disaster relief initiatives.
Suzan Moore - is an elementary school teacher (FCPS) who sponsors a STEM enrichment program for her 5th grade 'Techsperts' at Parklawn ES. The "Techsperts' will be providing an elementary school learning perspective on Curiosity Shoppe puzzles, games, and gadgets.
Bob Nordling - is the founder of the Curiosity Shoppe. He has been a School Base Technology Specialist (FCPS) for the past 14 years. Prior to that he founded the first Microsoft Authorized Academic Training Program (network engineering) at the high school level in Louisiana at the New Orleans Center for Science & Math where he taught for 7 years. His prior professional experiences include: software publisher, writer, network engineer, college & technical school instructor. He has served on the boards of local & national non-profits advancing the integration of digital technologies within education. His three-decade pedagogical passion has been to explore how the entire spectrum of inquiry-based learning (puzzles, games, recreational math, maker-culture, etc.) can be integrated within K-12 instruction to develop executive functions, critical thinking, and design skills. His current professional learning communities include: Association for Games & Puzzles International, American Cryptogram Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Computer Science Teachers Association. Contact: rcnordling@fcps.edu
Dr. Mark Stevens - is an IBMYP 'Individuals & Societies' teacher (FCPS) who for over 15 years has been developing innovative 'blended' history curricula to improve reading proficiency. One of Mr. Stevens' hobbies is participating in US Civil War reenactments. Mark received his doctorate in Instructional Technology ('Blended Learning') from George Mason University.
Paul Wesley - is an IBMYP 'Individuals & Societies' teacher (FCPS). Mr. Wesley is the Curiosity Shoppe's 'geocaching' and 'puzzle geocaching' specialist, a hobby he has pursued for several years. Prior to teaching, he served in the US Marine Corps.
Abia - is a 4th year 'Student Curator' (high school). She has participated in the Air Force Association 'CyberPatriot Middle School" competition -- GMS teams have participated at the State & Semi-Finals rounds. She is currently on assignment with the Curiosity Shoppe exploring Duct Tape Art for a future article.
Adam - is a 2nd year "Student Curator" (high school).
Arham - is a 2nd year "Student Curator" (high school).
Muhammad - is a 5th year 'Student Curator' (high school). He was the co-winner of the Curiosity Shoppe 'Puzzle Master of the Year Award' (2016).
Nate - is a 3rd year "Student Curator" (middle school).
Student Consultants: Humza (student curator: 2016, 2017, 2018), Petros (student curator: 2017), Maksud (student curator: 2016, cube specialist), Marco (student curator: 2018, 2019).
The Curiosity Shoppe envisions learning that leads
BEYOND the foundation of memorized facts, algorithms, and scripted steps assessed for federal and state compliance
TOWARDS a wide spectrum of authentic inquiry/design based experiences that nurture higher order human capabilities:
executive functions
critical & creative thinking
intellectual humility, empathy
communication & collaboration
ethical approach to communal and global life
Through the maturation of reflective relationships (with self, others, culture, nature, disciplinary conceptual worlds)
one is prepared to recognize and successfully encounter complex everyday life and discipline-specific problems & decisions
in order to pursue happiness for oneself & others.