Methods and Impact of Makerspaces in K12 Education
Theory + Practice in a classroom dedicated to hands on learning
Presented by
Ryan Steuer, Executive Director, Magnify Learning, PBL Expert
Dr. Kathy Moran, Dean Emerita, School of Education, University of Indianapolis
Bethany Thomas, Executive Director, Maker Youth Foundation, Inc.
Kim Brand, Founder & President, 1st Maker Space, LLC
In this five hour Professional Development experience for educators, leaders involved with the local maker movement will present the case for ‘making’ in a school as an effective tool to increase engagement, agency and attainment across all ages, ability levels, interests and backgrounds.
Ryan Steuer believes the middle grades are the sweetspot for Project Based Learning and Service Learning! After starting his career as an Industrial Engineer, Ryan brought his business background to 8th graders in Indianapolis, where he created a PBL school within a school. Now as the Executive Director of Magnify Learning, a nonprofit organization specializing inPBL professional development, Ryan shares his passion for student driven learning environments with teachers across the country.
Dr. KarthyMoran, Lead Consultant, MoranKa Consulting Group, will present on recent research focused on assessment in making. Her focus area inthe School of Education at UIndy was developing alternative pathways to preparing science and math educators to teach in modern classrooms with greater impact.
Bethany Thomas has spent over 20 years developing and presenting making activities in museum settings. As Executive Director ofthe new nonprofit, Maker Youth Foundation,Inc., she is developing/deliveringafterschool STEM programming for K12 students at makerspaces in two IPS high schools and for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. She has also trained a cohort of undergrad education and engineering students to lead many of her programs. You will learn how making matters most to underserved kids.
Kim Brand is an engineer, IT expert and entrepreneur. His company manufactures, distributes, trains and sustains maker equipment and has designed and built makerspaces in two IPS high schools. Over the past three years over 700 students have attend his 3D Design and Printing summer camps. He will describe the challenges schools have implementing makerspaces and the solutions he has helped develop with his district partners.
The presentation will be hosted bythe Shortridge High School Maker Space in Indianapolis and will include lunch, several maker activities and a ‘make and take’ lesson plan you can use when you get home.