Thinkering Lab |
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The confluence of the rise of public interest in making things and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects, the emergence of technology that enable novices to make sophisticated electronic objects, and the inclusion of engineering in the Next Generation Science Standards make this an opportune time to understand how interacting with these new technologies lead to learning. “The maker movement is an innovative way to reimagine education” (Peppler & Bender, 2013).
Maker Faires, community wide celebrations of making things, have been hosted across the world, with the largest of these attracting 100,000 visitors annually. Maker spaces (also called Tinkering Spaces, HackerSpaces, or Fab(rication) Labs) are quickly becoming the next “big thing” in STEM education. These are spaces that are designed for students to work in, to explore materials, to learn and try out new skills, and to fiddle with technology. These are, in short, places for people to make things. |