The Maker Movement has recently become a focal point of the classroom setting. The idea of using materials in our environment to solve problems has been used since the Stone Age (Martinez & Stager, 2014). However, the availability of educational technology in today’s society has seen this idea grow into the Maker Movement and a re-emergence of using new tools to enable hands-on, project-based learning.
Jean Piaget’s Constructivism and Seymour Papert’s Constructionism theories have helped demonstrate the importance of project-based learning and learning by doing in education (Piaget, 1976) (Papert & Harel, 1991). The Maker Movement acknowledges students as competent and lets them become the expert through exploring authentic tools and digital technologies. Through the design and construction of physical objects, students actively participate and engage while the informal and collaborative Maker Space environment helps encourage creativity, problem-solving and student-led learning (Bower et al. 2018).
Video from Vat19 Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWPKJF5enkk
Video Retrieved from LittleBits Electronics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUsJSDa7PE
Makey Makey, LittleBits and Circuit Scribe are all technologies which allow students to be the focal point of learning and tasks them with constructing, organising and coding programs. These tools permit students to solve specific problems, explore learning outside their head and substitute traditional learning methods. Makey Makey allows users to connect everyday objects to computer programs, LittleBits uses block-based coding which snap together for immediate prototyping and feedback and Circuit Scribe allows immersive, hands-on experiences for learning how electricity and electronics work.
Video Retrieved from Circuit Scribe Youtube Page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxV8XBwy-tY
These technological tools create a Maker Space where students can personally explore and engage in their own project-based activities. They all focus on the idea that students’ knowledge is being formed from individual experiences and helped by the creative/collaborative learning environment. For these tools to allow positive student learning, it is crucial that teachers are provided with reliable technology, shared support, appropriate resources spaces and time to learn how they are going to implement through their own teaching practices. Learning in Maker Space must also be aligned to curriculum outcomes to be used effectively and should be used as tasks to replace regular learning not used in addition to.
References
Bower, M., Stevenson, M., Falloon, G., Forbes, A., & Hatzigianni, M. (2018). Makerspaces in primary school settings: advancing 21st century and STEM capabilities using 3D design and printing.
Martinez, S., & Stager, G. (2014). The maker movement: A learning revolution. Learning & Leading with Technology.
Papert, S., & Harel, I. (1991). Situating constructionism. Constructionism, 36(2), 1-11.
Piaget, J. (1976). Piaget’s theory. In Piaget and his school (pp. 11-23). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
EDUC3620 Digital Creativity and Learning 
Hi Isaac! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog. I believe Makerspaces are an awesome idea for the classroom, because as you said, they foster creativity, problem-solving and student-led learning, which is so important for students motivation to learn and gain knowledge.
Your comparison and the three videos explaining Littlebits, Makey Makey and Circuit Scribe encouraged me to see the affordances of each and how they are different despite all having some of the same features.
if you were to use this in the classroom, what syllabus outcomes would you think would work best with a MakerSpaces lesson? I would love to hear which project-based activities you would incorporate into your class using MakerSpaces.
Great post! I enjoyed reading your work.
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Hi Isaac, great post! I agree with your point about using maker spaces, not as a supplementary tool but as an alternative way of learning. I believe constructionism and the maker movement can have such a transformative influence in our education tool, not only in relaying the curriculum but driving it instead. Furthermore, it hist all 4C’s of creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration, supporting students in developing the necessary skills to survive and thrive in our 21st century society.
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Hi Isaac, thanks for this brief but insightful post. I agree that maker spaces can be very beneficial for students learning experience. With the aid of technologies, makerspaces can be even more useful in fostering creative and problem solving skills. The technologies you have mentioned are great tools to teach for design based thinking. It can provide student centred learning experiences to allow students to discover their interests and develop future ready skills such as problem solving and critical thinking. I would like to add thought, is a concept called “maker mindset” , although having a physical space enriched with technology is important for creation and creativity, what is more important is having a “maker mindset” (visit my site for details on maker mindset: https://geniusteacher45182043.wordpress.com/blog-2/). The maker mindset is not confined to physical spaces but is a virtual makerspace within our consciousness. Have a maker mindset allows you to explore ideas anywhere and anytime. One can explore endless possibilities with their maker mindset! If you’re interested on maker minset, visit my blog listed above!
Thanks
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