qclabrat
Well-Known Member
Folks Makers Day is this weekend, check your local libraries for events or this website if you don't have a local program. http://njmakersday.org/content/announcing-nj-makers-day-2017
For those who are not familiar with this, it's a celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), targeted at kids but has an outreach to adults who want to understand more of what's driving today's world. When I first heard about STEM, I really embraced the concepts of the program of getting kids interested in a field which I studied and work today. Also the supplement of Makerspaces (many school libraries/computer labs are been converted), which are places where kids can imagine, create and prototype anything in a controlled environment, fueled what I saw as the future of hands on learning.
Unfortunately, like most programs of this sort, it gets commercialized. I've been disappointed to see that schools are spending lots of money on"STEM" supplies and not really using them as intended or worst not allowing to let kids explore on their own, which is what the Makespaces were meant to do. Buying a 3D printer, green screens, Makey Makey and laptops for every one I feel does not fulfill why the STEM program was originally developed.
Last year I started a pilot enrichment program at a charter school at an at risk district. I had two goals, (1) supplement interest in STEM topics to grade school children and (2) empower teens to make a difference by leading enrichment programs to younger kids. My first goal is in progress and I have just started bringing my teen daughters to help me when I am at the school. Eventually I would like to work with the middle schools at the neighboring districts to solicit more teens to volunteer as well as expanding this to other at risk neighborhoods.
I'm usually asking for feedback at other websites and forums, but I know there are many on mtbnj who either work in the STEM fields, teach for a living, make/fix things as day job and others just like making and fixing things for fun. For those of you who fit in any of the above, how did you get there and what is it that keeps you motivated and interested? As a child, I loved to take things apart; clocks, watches, door locks, mouse traps, etc. But I usually had problems putting it back together and it wasn't uncommon to have more broken clocks at our NYC apartment than working ones. My parents were usually very supportive but there were a few times, when they would come home and scream WTF, e.g., why are you trying to heat up a bullet on the stove??!!
Thanks ahead for sharing your views and experiences. I'm also interested in what your kids, grown or babies, are interested-in in relation to STEM or critical thinking.
For those who are not familiar with this, it's a celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), targeted at kids but has an outreach to adults who want to understand more of what's driving today's world. When I first heard about STEM, I really embraced the concepts of the program of getting kids interested in a field which I studied and work today. Also the supplement of Makerspaces (many school libraries/computer labs are been converted), which are places where kids can imagine, create and prototype anything in a controlled environment, fueled what I saw as the future of hands on learning.
Unfortunately, like most programs of this sort, it gets commercialized. I've been disappointed to see that schools are spending lots of money on"STEM" supplies and not really using them as intended or worst not allowing to let kids explore on their own, which is what the Makespaces were meant to do. Buying a 3D printer, green screens, Makey Makey and laptops for every one I feel does not fulfill why the STEM program was originally developed.
Last year I started a pilot enrichment program at a charter school at an at risk district. I had two goals, (1) supplement interest in STEM topics to grade school children and (2) empower teens to make a difference by leading enrichment programs to younger kids. My first goal is in progress and I have just started bringing my teen daughters to help me when I am at the school. Eventually I would like to work with the middle schools at the neighboring districts to solicit more teens to volunteer as well as expanding this to other at risk neighborhoods.
I'm usually asking for feedback at other websites and forums, but I know there are many on mtbnj who either work in the STEM fields, teach for a living, make/fix things as day job and others just like making and fixing things for fun. For those of you who fit in any of the above, how did you get there and what is it that keeps you motivated and interested? As a child, I loved to take things apart; clocks, watches, door locks, mouse traps, etc. But I usually had problems putting it back together and it wasn't uncommon to have more broken clocks at our NYC apartment than working ones. My parents were usually very supportive but there were a few times, when they would come home and scream WTF, e.g., why are you trying to heat up a bullet on the stove??!!
Thanks ahead for sharing your views and experiences. I'm also interested in what your kids, grown or babies, are interested-in in relation to STEM or critical thinking.