Bringing out the Makers

I've been a big fan of the maker movement ever since I saw MAKE: television Episode 1: Bicycle Rodeo & VCR Powered Cat Feeder several years ago. Have you seen some of the cool things these people make? Makers rock! The concept learning, creating, tinkering, and innovating with everyday things called to me. But better yet, I was convinced that it would also call to the many hard-to-engage, seemingly apathetic (but likely hosts of dormant brilliance) kids that bless my days but keep me awake at night.

Last year, I invited James Carlson from The School Factory to talk with our staff about the concept of makerspaces. His visit ignited conversations about what could be, shaping dreams of a multi-generational collaborative learning space in our community. But when teachers returned to their classrooms the following day, the reality of our time-sucking, back-to-the-grind routine sunk in. While the immediate needs of our (sometimes) very needy students screamed for our time and attention, the prospect of a community makerspace seemed too distant to reach. Rather than throwing in the towel, or biting off more than we could reasonable chew, we adopted a "what can we do right now?" approach and the STEM Studio (our mini makerspace) was born. Almost a year later, we're celebrating how a few really cool projects have brought out the makers in our kids.

Last week visitors from the Herald Times Reporter, our local newspaper, visited the STEM Studio, and published a nice article honoring our budding makers:
McKinley Academy students get hands on with old tech | HTR Media | htrnews.com

I'm excited to explore next steps to further tap into that dormant brilliance of our kids!