What is Maker Education and how is it different from STEM?

Maker Education is a process based educational system that uses design thinking and all subject based skills to create meaningful solutions for real world problems. It focuses learners on the process of solving problems utilizing skills they learn in individual subject areas to create useful products.

STEM education lacks a process. It is a collection of individual subjects and projects that keep learners within that subject area. STEM project often are very directed, where students are following along with a specific set of instructions, not given an opportunity to create individualized thoughtful solutions.  

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What does Maker Education include?

Maker Education includes construction and fabrication methods including a variety of technologies, tools and materials. It also includes understanding the design thinking process. The design thinking process walks makers through a step-by-step, logical system that helps them solve problems for people.

It is the design thinking process that is the pedagogy behind Maker Education. In other words: Design Thinking + Making = Maker Education

 

Why is the design thinking process so important?

The design thinking process is important because it forces makers to be both thoughtful and logical about what they make. It helps makers create solutions to real world problems that are effective and meaningful for the people who will using them.

 

How can Maker Education help society?

Maker Education will help society because it provides people with a transdisciplinary, problem solving mindset that they can apply to any situation they may face.

 

Why should we teach Maker Education to students?

Students are our future. Teaching Maker Education will turn our students into makers. Makers have a greater understanding of how to construct things with purpose while considering the needs and perspective of others. In addition, teaching Maker Education will help students to see many different career options. It can lead students down a path of technical careers such a mechanical technicians, electricians, computer programmers, graphic designers as well as leading students to think about professional careers as lawyers, entrepreneurs, engineers, or designers. But perhaps most importantly, Maker Education teaches ALL students many important career related skills such as problem solving, perspective taking, teamwork, risk taking and creativity.

 

What character strengths does Maker Education teach?

When children are taught the design thinking process they build their internal character strength of curiosity: wanting to know more about how stuff works. Maker Education gives students the opportunity to develop this perspective, while combining it with empathy and understanding for other people in our world. As a result, students develop social intelligence and teamwork because it is impossible to work on these complex projects alone. Maker Education projects are tough and require a lot of grit, perseverance and being able to learn from failures.

 

Why not just teach one specific skill or technology?

Many of the tools and technologies that we have access to today will not exist or be useful in a few years. Beyond the pure technology, we need to develop confidence in our students to be able to figure out any new tool or technology that is put in front of them. Teaching multiple technologies help learners become comfortable with changes and develop confidence in themselves.

 

What is the difference between science and engineering?

The study of science seeks to answer the question: Why? - Why do certain planets orbit in our solar system? Why do baking soda and vinegar react together? Design thinking and the study of engineering seeks to answer a different question: How? - How can we send a rocket to planets that are farthest away? How do we create a better mechanism for unclogging drains? Science has a more academic and studious based application whereas technology and design thinking have more practical real world applications.

 

How is design thinking different then the scientific method?

The scientific method begins by identifying a hypothesis which is a proposed explanation based on limited evidence. The design thinking process starts with generating deep understanding of situation and drawing no conclusions until much later in the process. The design process sets people up for developing the best possible solution that is going to be helpful to others.

 

Why is learning about Maker Education useful for both a 2nd grade teacher as well as a high school social studies teacher?

All students need to understand Maker Education principles. Throughout a student's academic career the more exposure they receive to this structure of thinking, the better able they will be to adapt to and create solutions for the ever changing complex world.

Of course, depending on the grade level, the skills and technologies are going to change but the design thinking process will be consistent. Nonetheless, it with have a simpler structure for younger children, and more complex steps for older students. Maker Education principles will always be connected to the content learned.

As an example, a high school social studies teacher can challenge students to design and 3D print a replicated ancient town from the Ottoman Empire; whereas, a second grade teacher can challenge students to design a new structure for the center of town square and it build out of wood.

Want to enhance your understand of Maker Education principles? Check out WhyMaker’s Maker Educator Growth Program or email info@whymaker.com to schedule a chat.