Maker Faires have a growing reputation for providing memorable experiences that connect people through common ideas and practices. Even first-timers leave Maker Faires feeling a personal connection to the idea that we are all makers. This was nothing less than evident at the East Bay Mini Maker Faire held on October 19 at the Park Day School in Oakland, CA.
Makers of all kinds filled the Park Day School’s campus to show and tell various creations, and to share inspiring ideas and opportunities to make. Faire attendees had many options to participate in a wide range of making activities –– from mosaic tile creations and nerdy derby, to soldering and paper creations. My favorite making activity was creating musical instruments using recycled shoe boxes and rubber bands. I created a harp prototype, that was able to produce four different tonal pitches.
Although this was not my first Maker Faire experience, the East Bay Mini Faire impacted me in ways that I had not experienced before. The East Bay Mini Maker Faire provided me with moments of inspiration, empowerment, and affirmation –– all of which have positively impacted my perspective on making.
My moment of inspiration came while attending the East Bay Mini Maker Faire Educators Meet Up. The Educators Meet Up offered educators from the East Bay the opportunity to share their experiences with making in the classroom and to connect with other maker educators. As a leader of the Maker VISTA program –– which is focused on expanding making opportunities to all youth, particularly those living in low-income communities –– it was important to hear the perspectives of the brave souls who take on the task of making our future. Educators discussed various topics such as integrating making into other subjects unrelated to STEM or STEAM, the positive impact making has on student engagement and involvement, activities and projects, and how to gain the support of administrators and other educators within their own schools. Being able to hear educators’ experiences with making provided me with insight on what more I could do to support their efforts to bring making to all classrooms.
It was empowering to provide educators with feedback that could support their work with developing and sustaining new and existing maker programs –– and suggesting ways for educators to connect and share their experiences with making. I referred teachers to Maker Ed’s Online Resource library. The Maker Ed Online Resource Library is an interactive digital archive intended to help educators get started –– and continue –– making in education. I also suggested the Maker Ed Google+ Community to educators looking for ways to connect with other maker educators –– and share ideas and best practices for making in education.
After nearly a year of working to build the capacity of 9 youth serving organizations across the country, there is nothing more empowering than witnessing their achievements. It was very fulfilling to see the Lighthouse Charter School’s Creativity Lab, one of our Maker Vista sites, co lead the Educators Meet Up and expose educators to the possibilities of making in education. Aaron Vanderwerff ‘s commitment to bring making to all Oakland, California, and Bay Area schools –– paired with the tireless efforts of VISTA members Anisa Bora and Jessica Gray Schipp –– has transformed the Creativity Lab into a model program for makerspaces in schools. Observing educators’ enthusiasm for the Creativity Lab’s ideas and practices, speaks to how Lighthouse is now being seen as one of the Bay Area leaders for making in education. Together, the Lighthouse team offers making to students during and after school, trains Lighthouse teachers on how to bring making to their classrooms, and hosts professional development workshops that train Bay Area teachers on how to develop lesson plans around making activities.
From witnessing Lighthouse shine as a guiding light for maker educators, to hearing the uplifting testimonials of teachers proclaiming the positive impact making has on student learning experiences, my experience at the East Bay Mini Maker Faire affirmed my belief that making has the power to transform our society. By providing our youth with quality and engaging educational experiences such as learning through making, our youth will be able to work collaboratively to find creative solutions to solve social, economical, and environmental challenges. I too share the feelings of excitement, empowerment, imagination, and most of all, community that making brings –– with youth, educators, and makers of all kind. I’m truly motivated to continue my advocacy towards a vision of ALL youth recognizing themselves as makers and having access to quality learning experiences. I join the efforts of those who make the sacrifice to stand for seeing our youth –– our future –– becoming champions of world change.
