youth makerspace - makerkids makercon presentation

A Youth Makerspace: Making it Work

Andy ForestCo-Executive Director (Learning)

@codepoet127andy@makerkids.ca

First Youth Makerspace in Canada, one of the first in the world.

MakerKids

MakerKids

Thank you Exploratorium, Young Makers, Maker Media, Noisebridge,

Techshop, Brightworks and 821 Valencia!

Garage Startup - 2010

MakerSpace - 2012

Expansion - 2013

Jennifer TurliukCo-ExecutiveDirector(Business)

Digital Makerspace - 2013

Curriculum Development

What to Teach

What to Teach

“Our education system goes back to ancient Messopotamia, with scribes learning to write. It’s top down, limited, authoritative and draconian. If you're not a round peg that fits in a round hole then you're a failure.”

- James Burke

What to Teach

1. Production Centered2. Interest Driven3. Networked4. Peer Collaboration5. For an Authentic Audience

Real Tools

Step by Step Skill Building?

Creativity over Skill Building

Photo copyright Andrea Schwalm

Interest Driven

Interest Driven

Project Process1. Play2. Brainstorm 3. Make a plan 4. Identify unknowns, research solutions5. Build6. Fail – try something else7. …8. Success!

Project Process

Peer Collaboration

Authentic Audience

Volunteers

Teachers

Community Engagement

Marketing

Fill the Gap!

Fill the Gap!

Questions

Andy ForestCo-Executive Director (Learning)

@codepoet127andy@makerkids.ca

Question: What about Insurance & Liability?Answers:• Make some waivers that clearly state the activities and risks• Describe your activities to insurer in terms they understand: “We’re a kids after school arts

program. Oh, and we also use power tools and soldering irons.”

Andy Forest Co-Executive Director (Learning)@codepoet127 andy@makerkids.ca

Questions