I just presented at Stanford University’s FabLearn Conference 2016. It was an amazing experience and truly inspiring as I learned how teachers around the world are advancing the Maker Education movement. These educators are putting in countless hours designing and implementing curriculum that takes student-centered learning to a whole new level.
There were four salient points that I learned in that weekend.
This is what I intend to do to ACT on these insights. Without action, much of these nice thoughts will fade and be put to the back burner. So, I’ve decided to act. Point One: How to bring in more Exploratory Play opportunities to my middle school site. I will be pitching an idea of a technology playground to the Miller Community Education Foundation and my administration today. I don’t want to call this space a Maker-anything. Makerspaces have the explicit intention of making a product and in today's climate, this space always carries an expectation of innovation or invention. Instead, I want the purpose of this space to be for exploratory play. Therefore, I propose calling this space "The Playground". The intent of this playground is to play, not invent nor innovate. Low tech material and any high-tech tools that reside inside will be geared towards all possibilities of play, which might express itself as innovation and invention. Maybe it is a fine distinction, but I think it will be a necessary one, especially to get the staff on board with it. My message will be that our students have an opportunity to play using technology...both low tech and high tech. That there is value in play, whether it be as a solo exploration or a collaboration. Finally, that students have access to a variety of avenues of self-expression. Point Two: How to get the staff on board with not only The Playground, but to innovate their curricula towards a Maker-style classroom. This one will be especially difficult. I’ve already engaged in various conversations with my colleagues who acknowledge that a Maker-style space like The Playground would be great to have on campus, but there are legitimate questions to its sustainability. Most teachers will need substantial support to help them incorporate an activity that would have their students utilize this space. There is also the issue of supervising and/or maintaining this space in a manner that involves majority of staff members, as opposed to just a few and committed handful. So, this will be my game plan. Just focus on my own classes and bring The Playground to fruition. I will take a “Build it and they will come” mentality. I don't know how much can be done, but I know what I can do. Lead by inspiration. Be the voice of innovative teaching at my school site. Do what I can to help my community evolve. Point Three: Helping Other Educators (worldwide) Tailor Their Programs I am on a Facebook group called DoSchoolBetter.com. Educators from around the world are coming together for support and asking questions to specific problems of their programs. There are definitely common issues that all educators have to deal with from group grading issues to incorporating an entrepreneurship perspective. I am trying to be as active on that site as I can. It makes me feel like I can be helpful to someone else trying to innovate in their classrooms. It also allows me to witness the wonderful programs out there and brings me hope, as well as inspiration, for what is possible. Point Four: Stay in AWE of all the innovation that is happening worldwide. If I can surround myself with stories of educators striving to innovate, I know I can do so, too. This will keep me motivated to continue my journey as an innovative educator. Please let me know about your programs, too. I am eager to connect with educators who are doing great things at their sites! Education is truly a remarkable profession to be in right now. I hope that by blogging about my thoughts, my classes, and my journey that it brings me closer to a wider community of educators seeking to elevate the state of education worldwide. I know that this is what I need to do. Terry Chou
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AuthorTerry Chou is a science teacher at Joaquin Miller Middle School in San Jose, CA. Three years ago, she fell in love with the idea of teaching innovation as a way to bring a unique research experience to her students and SEARCH class was born. This further developed her keen dedication to the advancing of science education. Archives
January 2017
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