Dive Brief:

• More than 1,400 school leaders have signed the Maker Promise, committing to dedicate space to making, designate a champion and display the results of maker education, but how are they doing it?
• Digital Promise finds one key step is making the pledge to get these opportunities to all students and sticking to it, either by getting makerspaces in every school like South Fayette Township School District or launching a mobile lab, like Baltimore County Public Schools plan to do.
• The most innovative schools are also empowering teachers by giving them leadership opportunities to implement their ideas as well as professional development support, and they are partnering with foundations or local companies for the materials and funding to make things happen.

Dive Insight:

“Maker” education has become a key way to give students opportunities to experience the joy of exploration and creation. This can inspire students into careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and teach them valuable lessons about troubleshooting problems and persevering through initial failure.

One problem with this type of self-directed activity, however, is that it takes time. Schools with more flexible curricula can give students opportunities to engage in making during the school day, but those without it can still get creative. Mobile makerspace events, after-school clubs and summer camps are all ways students can be exposed to making outside of the school day. With this, reaching all students is a significantly greater challenge, but perhaps one schools should take on.