Severn Education Series Spring '15

THE MAKER

MINDSET A closer look at the Maker Movement: a community of designers, inventors, engineers, artists, and tinkerers. Regardless of what is being created, “Makers� show a spirit of curiosity, embrace trial-and-error and collaboration to further an idea, to invent something to solve a problem, and/or add value to what currently exists.

Find more Maker resources online at www.severnschool.com/makermovement

By Cathy North

THE MAKER

People Who Will Change the World by Tony Wagner. Wagner profiles some of America’s greatest innovators and summarizes three important characteristics that are Why it’s important to commonly found in innovators: children’s lives, education play, passion, and purpose. These and overall being. same natural and intrinsic qualities are ones that begin in childhood and, as parents and educators, we look to support and nurture.

The Maker Movement promotes this same mindset and overarching philosophy. As educators, we look to provide opportunities to engage students in valuing the process of hildren have always reveled in tinkering… learning, doing, tinkering, and creating. taking things apart, putting things The Design Process — a series of steps together, and exploring small and large taken to solve a problem — provides this toys, objects, and earth’s surroundings. framework and common language to promote This combination of play, joy, and discovery risk-taking in a safe environment and may be cultivates imagination and creativity. utilized by adults and children as they innovate Tinkering is a big part of the Maker at home, school or work.

Movement. The Maker what? What is this and There are numerous, similar models of the why is it important to children’s lives, education, Design Process to promote learning and and overall being? innovation to solve a problem. Design Squad Simply stated, the Maker Movement is a Nation, a PBS Kids program, uses the following community of designers, inventors, engineers, process: artists, and tinkerers, who let their imaginations Identify the Problem: provide developmentally create and solve problems while valuing the appropriate real-world problems or ask students process along the way. Regardless of what is to generate problems they wish to solve within a being created “Makers” show a spirit of given context to promote a natural and curiosity, embrace trial-and-error and inquisitive desire to find a solution. collaboration to further an idea, to invent Brainstorm: generate a list of possible something to solve a problem, and/or add value solutions. to what currently exists.

Last summer, our faculty and staff read the Design: select a possible solution, determine book, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young the materials needed, and design it.

MINDSET

C

Build, Test & Evaluate, Redesign: We learn by doing…build away! The iteration stage is vital.

During this time, individuals self-reflect and use feedback.

Share Solution: communicate the process and results; as well as how the end product will solve the problem.

Although the essence of the Maker Movement is not new, the presence it now has in our classrooms and overall positive impact it has on promoting positive, reflective mindsets has evolved.

The merging of math, engineering, creative and critical thinking, along with aesthetics has provided greater purpose for understanding and applying content and skills in a meaningful way to produce results. One cannot innovate without knowledge. One cannot innovate without the risk of failing and failing well, using the failures to build successes.

For children, promoting a mindset of asking questions and giving them time to tinker with and explore their questions makes a difference.

Warren Berger, author of A More Beautiful Question, shares how children ask fewer questions as they progress through early childhood, elementary, and middle school grades. Having a mindset that questions builds a pursuit for learning.

Providing materials to build and explore in an open-ended and safe manner without predetermined goals of what the outcome should be is a great start for children.

The exciting news is that Maker labs and spaces are growing in number. The labs provide the space and resources for children and adults to explore their passions, use their skills and

knowledge, collaborate, and reflect upon their trial and errors while finding purpose to solve a problem or create something new. Regardless of one’s age and knowledge, “Making” is about doing, collaborating, becoming an active innovator and celebrating the process along the way.

Cathy North joined the Severn School community as Lower School Head in 2013, after serving four years as the academic director and one year teaching first grade at Chesapeake Academy. Cathy holds a master of education degree from Loyola College of Maryland. She has nearly 25 years experience as a teacher, administrator, and independent consultant.

The Severn School Education Series is published three times each school year and is designed to offer useful information on a variety of topics relevant to elementary and secondary education. Severn School is an independent, coeducational, nonprofit, college preparatory day school serving a diverse student population in grades preschool through twelve. The School challenges its students to pursue excellence in character, conduct, and scholarship, to marshal the courage to lead, and to develop the lasting desire to serve and achieve. We believe this is best realized in a community where adults model these qualities and where each student is known and valued. We invite your comments, questions, and suggestions: k.kuhn@severnschool.com.