Designing a School Makerspace Makerspaces, STEAM labs, and fab labs are popping up in schools across the country. Makerspaces provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering and tinkering. A makerspace is not solely a science lab, woodshop, computer lab or art room, but it may contain elements found in all of these familiar spaces. Therefore, it must be designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, tools and materials. Diversity and cross-pollination of activities are critical to the design, making and exploration process, and they are what set makerspaces and STEAM labs apart from single-use spaces. Cardboard construction Prototyping Woodworking Electronics Robotics Digital fabrication Building bicycles and kinetic machines Textiles and sewing Designing a space to accommodate such a wide range of activities is a challenging process. Some schools have chosen to incorporate makerspaces within multiple classroom spaces.
Electrical Problems Electrical problems are problems with either the design or construction of your electrical circuits. These are physical problems that you’ll need to fix by hand with scissors, a needle, thread, fabric, and glue. The next several pages provide examples of common electrical problems, information about how to find them, and step-by-step instructions for fixing them. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS COVERED IN THIS SECTION • loose connections • short circuits • reversed polarity Loose connections occur when the thread that is stitched through a component (like an LED, speaker, LilyTiny, or Protoboard) is too loose. symptoms If there is a loose connection in your project, parts of your project will only work some of the time. checking your project for loose connections Gently bend and stretch your project. To fix loose connections, thread your needle with conductive thread. If you have a knot that is unravelling, find the end of the thread and pull on it to re-tighten connections.
Blog: Technology Tools for Teachers Solar System Exploration: Science & Technology: Science Features: Jupiter: Mythology and Man's Early Musings By Marilyn Morgan Ancient Impressions of Jupiter What was it like to live as a very early human, thousands of years ago? The world must have seemed mysterious and frightening, as well as wondrous and fantastic. The earliest people could not have failed to be aware of the boundary between night and day, and they must have gazed at the night sky with awe as humans still do. Curiosity about the world had to be secondary to survival, but as societies became more settled and more complex, and humans more interdependent, the desire for explanations became stronger. There were ancient observers who gradually gained an understanding of the differences between the many lights in the heavens that moved in groups across the sky canopy and the few bright lights that moved one way, then another, wandering about the sky. Curiosity requires explanations, and human imagination filled the void. People did not realize how far away the heavens really were. The Four Galilean Moons:
Imagination Foundation | Cardboard Challenge (Rethinking) Makerspaces Kids have always made in my library. We encouraged digital and visual and dramatic and rhetorical creativity before, during, and after school. But for a while, I’ve questioned the value of using already heavily used real estate to randomly carve out space for a 3D printer, electronics stations and sewing machines. I had my doubts about the makerspace movement in school libraries. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with Amos Blanton, project manager of the Scratch online community, and a member of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Lab. Amos makes the case for makerspaces as powerful, authentic, relevant learning experiences, and for when and why library may be the very right space to create a makerspace. Here’s the video of our chat and a few of key points to consider before adopting a maker culture for libraries Amos’ key points: School pressures make it challenging to make space for interest-driven learning.
SEW ELECTRIC | DIY PROJECTS THAT COMBINE FABRIC, ELECTRONICS AND PROGRAMMING Book: ISTE NETS for Coaches NETS Project NETS Project Released in 2011, the NETS for Coaches (NETS•C) join the NETS for Students (NETS•S), Teachers (NETS•T), and Administrators (NETS•A) to describe the essential role that technology coaches play in transforming schools into digital age, global learning environments. Who are technology coaches? The NETS•C describe how technology coaches support the work of administrators, teachers, and ultimately students in transforming schools into digital age, global learning environments. Interested in learning more about the ISTE Standards?
Science Bits CHS Short Stacks | They're short for a reason! Maker Ed's Resource Library » Become a Sponsor Disclaimer: Maker Ed’s online Resource Library contains links to third-party organizations, companies, and commercial products. By including these resources, Maker Ed intends to highlight their potential value to the maker education community, rather than to provide an endorsement. The library is independently managed by Maker Ed staff, who adhere to a set of guidelines to ensure that all third-party resources are primarily informational, rather than promotional, in nature. This resource curation process is free from the influence or control of any party outside of Maker Ed.
Electronics Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter A multimeter is an electronics testing device that, um, tests multiple things, including resistance, voltage, and current. Using certain multimeter models, you can test to be sure that components — such [more…] Electronics Basics: Using a Breadboard A breadboard is a rectangular plastic box filled with holes, which have contacts in which you can insert electronic components and wires. What Is Soldering and How Do You Use Solder Tools? Soldering (pronounced "soddering") involves a material called solder that melts when placed on a hot object; the melted solder cools and forms a bond between two items. Turning Electricity On and Off You've scrounged around your growing electronics bin and come up with wires to connect a circuit together and batteries to power the circuit. Steps to Great Car Audio Sound It takes a lot to create a good car audio system. Ten (Or So) Cool Electronics Testing Tool Tips Okay, so you're ready to graduate to the electronics big time.