To quote Claude Lévi-Strauss, "The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he's one who asks the right questions." Every mistake made is an opportunity to incorporate feedback into a new design, a way to solve challenges previously unforeseen. Mistakes are a part of learning, since they show that students are pushing the boundaries of their capabilities. In contrast to a "single correct answer" approach, making is a mindset, a way to approach problem-solving through experimentation and play. Making encourages students to pose their own questions and pursue answers in an organic way. Dale Dougherty, the creator of Maker Faire, sees making as a way to develop one's full potential: "Fostering the maker mindset through education is a fundamentally human project - to support the growth and development of another person not just physically, but mentally and emotionally" (Dougherty, 2013). Maker education is more than just tools and technology. Maker Mindset: Teaching Students to Ask Questions and Embrace Mistakes If students use their hands as well as their minds, they're essentially learning twice. Through brain imaging, researchers found that physical experience activates the sensorimotor region of students' brains, which helps reinforce what they're learning (Kontra et al., 2015). Students who participate in science experiments, instead of just observing them, have a deeper conceptual understanding of science. Why is hands-on learning effective? We can look to neuroscience for insight. A 2009 study found that eighth-grade students who were involved in hands-on science projects demonstrated a deeper understanding of concepts than students who were taught with traditional methods such as textbook readings, lectures, and tests (Riskowski et al., 2009). Research shows that hands-on learning is an effective way to teach students science. "And as a result, it really raises the level of work that kids are doing, and it starts to make sense. "One of the things that we've discovered is that maker education with kids gets them engaged, gets them passionate about the work, gives them opportunities to pursue things that they're interested in,” says Superintendent Pam Moran. Textbooks, if present, are more likely to be used as references - a tool to help students design and build their projects - unlike traditional classrooms where memorizing the textbook itself may be the goal.Īt Albemarle County Public Schools, making fosters student autonomy, ignites student interest, and empowers students to embrace their own learning. A typical makerspace looks more like a workshop than a classroom, with tools, art supplies, and computer parts filling the room. Hands-on learning plays a key role in maker education. Instead of just memorizing material for a test, students are encouraged to use what they know to design and build projects, whether it's hacking everyday objects to make music or using a 3D printer to build a mechanical prosthetic hand for a child. The Science of Hands-On LearningĪt the heart of making is the idea that all students are creators. By incorporating elements of making into the classroom, educators can bridge the gap between what students are passionate about and what they're learning in school. Driven by new technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, and kid-friendly coding, making is emerging as an effective way to introduce students to STEM, particularly women and minorities. More recently, maker education is being used as a way to connect do-it-yourself informal learning to classrooms.
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