Maker Program Conversation With Jen Ryan
Sandra Thaxter
Report on Conversation with Jen Ryan: Harvard Education School Project Zero Researcher
Maker Movement, Maker Spaces and Learning
How do maker programs set up learning spaces and how do they measure benefits and outcomes. What kind of interventions support the outcomes.
Project Zero researchers gathered their data by going to schools that were building out maker programs; schools where Maker programs were already happening. They interviewed educators and asked them what values they found in the program. The school contexts were very varied. Some were fully outfitted... some were in church basements. In New Mexico very rural community with little equipment, the team focused on how to take ownership of their own environment.. so they know how to fix things, as well as create. Then they are in charge of their own program and working space.
Agency: What does agency look like through a maker lens. How do we equip young people to change the design of their way in ethical efficient and beautiful waysOne of the big take aways was talk around agency. Helping young people understand the design aspects of their world. Many of the ideas they interact with everyday have been designed. When you slow down and engage in observing how you move through spaces, for example the bus route to school, school lunch lines as designed design structures and systems. The goal became how to help students see these designs and be able to change them.
Learned that the moves of slowing down and noticing and exploring the complexity of our world works to help them start thinking. Systems thinking reveals how by tweaking one thing a whole structure is changed.
Thinking Capacities Developed as Focus: 1.Looking Closely, 2. Exploring Complexity and 3. Finding opportunity. These thinking capacities are the focus of development.
One teacher in Portland... it is like industrial arts 50s style program. So he is working with available materials and systems
What do we need in our Maker Space? Answer is what are the goals for the program.
Agency and Maker Empowerment... the learning choices and application had to do with the goal. The context is collaborative (group members are information and skill resources) outside people or resources... distributed style of teaching. - an individual teacher is not the prime resources. There are many resources in the classroom and outside.
Agency by Design or Design Thinking: Some educators have done system hunts in their schools. Getting kids involved in looking at how they use their space has brought real changes. The idea of understanding the design of systems. Design hunts include not just objects but people systems as well. What skills and tools a class, teachers, or the schools has becomes part of all of your learning.
Project Zero: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/
Educator resources page on Project Zero website.. Research is qualitative and taken from interviews with educators. Whitepaper on emergent findings - project zero findings.
There are published findings papers. Peppler, Kylie. Agency by Design Writing a book that is coming out later this year. Makology book. Whitepaper on emergent findings - project zero findings.
Follow Up Jessica Ross Agency by Design Team Member: Resource on developing assessment work at Project Zero.
Sandra requested link to potential to engage with students who might want a field experience.
Sandra requested Jen to join a possible Skype conversation with Mark Okello and Makini School Teachers.
Joanne Clemente
Amazing Resource
Thanks Sandra!
Sent: Wednesday, January 6, 2016 1:43 PM
To: OLPC In Kenya
Subject: [kenya-olpc] Maker Program Conversation With Jen Ryan
Report on Conversation with Jen Ryan: Harvard Education School Project Zero Researcher
Maker Movement, Maker Spaces and Learning
How do maker programs set up learning spaces and how do they measure benefits and outcomes. What kind of interventions support the outcomes.
Project Zero researchers gathered their data by going to schools that were building out maker programs; schools where Maker programs were already happening. They interviewed educators and asked them what values they found in the program. The school contexts were very varied. Some were fully outfitted... some were in church basements. In New Mexico very rural community with little equipment, the team focused on how to take ownership of their own environment.. so they know how to fix things, as well as create. Then they are in charge of their own program and working space.
Agency: What does agency look like through a maker lens. How do we equip young people to change the design of their way in ethical efficient and beautiful waysOne of the big take aways was talk around agency. Helping young people understand the design aspects of their world. Many of the ideas they interact with everyday have been designed. When you slow down and engage in observing how you move through spaces, for example the bus route to school, school lunch lines as designed design structures and systems. The goal became how to help students see these designs and be able to change them.
Learned that the moves of slowing down and noticing and exploring the complexity of our world works to help them start thinking. Systems thinking reveals how by tweaking one thing a whole structure is changed.
Thinking Capacities Developed as Focus: 1.Looking Closely, 2. Exploring Complexity and 3. Finding opportunity. These thinking capacities are the focus of development.
One teacher in Portland... it is like industrial arts 50s style program. So he is working with available materials and systems
What do we need in our Maker Space? Answer is what are the goals for the program.
Agency and Maker Empowerment... the learning choices and application had to do with the goal. The context is collaborative (group members are information and skill resources) outside people or resources... distributed style of teaching. - an individual teacher is not the prime resources. There are many resources in the classroom and outside.
Agency by Design or Design Thinking: Some educators have done system hunts in their schools. Getting kids involved in looking at how they use their space has brought real changes. The idea of understanding the design of systems. Design hunts include not just objects but people systems as well. What skills and tools a class, teachers, or the schools has becomes part of all of your learning.
Project Zero: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/
Educator resources page on Project Zero website.. Research is qualitative and taken from interviews with educators. Whitepaper on emergent findings - project zero findings.
There are published findings papers. Peppler, Kylie. Agency by Design Writing a book that is coming out later this year. Makology book. Whitepaper on emergent findings - project zero findings.
Follow Up Jessica Ross Agency by Design Team Member: Resource on developing assessment work at Project Zero.
Sandra requested link to potential to engage with students who might want a field experience.
Sandra requested Jen to join a possible Skype conversation with Mark Okello and Makini School Teachers.
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