Maker Projects and Design Challenges
Channel: John Spencer
Date: 2016-02-29

How do we bring out the maker in every student? In this illustrated video, I share some thoughts on two practical approaches that have worked for me. Enjoy this video? Please subscribe to the channel: http://bit.ly/spencervideos

We know that all children are natural makers. But how do we unleash this creativity in a system where you don’t have enough technology and you lack time and you have a rigid curriculum map tied to a high-stakes test? 

Well, here are two ideas. The first is called a maker project. 
The second is a design challenge. Both projects allow students to experiment and create and collaborate. However, each project fulfills a different role. 

Maker projects are short-terms projects while design challenges are long-term. Maker projects focus on rapid prototyping while design challenges involve the entire design thinking cycle. Maker projects focus on an audience of one while design challenges have a specific, larger audience in mind. 

Now, here’s the beauty of it. These two ideas don’t require a ton of technology and they can work within the standards you have to teach. So ultimately, they don’t require any extra time. 

All they require is a little bit of imagination and a willingness to try something new.