The Journey Is the Destination: Interest Development and Learning in Makerspace Classrooms

• In Event: 34.078 - Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: 34.078-12 - Art and Creativity in the Learning Sciences

Abstract

Makerspaces show promise as contexts for STEAM learning. However, as makerspaces gain popularity and, increasingly, move into schools, there is increased pressure to determine what students learn, how it’s learned, and how to assess learning. We examine these questions in an in-school makerspace. We propose that an important feature of makerspaces is students’ ability to let their interests shape learning. Consequently, to examine learning, we must reevaluate both what learning we care about – metadisciplinary, rather than disciplinary skills – and how we assess learning – authentic, contextualized evidence, rather than standardized assessments. We propose a framework for analyzing learning in this way and provide three cases demonstrating how diverse interests lead to different, but equally rich, learning pathways.

Authors

• Kay Ellen Ramey, Northwestern University

• Reed Stevens, Northwestern University

• Kemi Jona, Northwestern University