Supporting Youth Engagement in Online Maker Education Workshops: Pandemic Lessons, Future Potentials

• In Event: Braving the Challenges of the Pandemic: Research on Navigating Learning Environments in Times of Emergency

Abstract

The makerspaces were severely disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we present a preliminary analysis of an adaptation of a nine-month after-school maker education program from a live makerspace to online due to the pandemic. The goal of this study is to deepen our understanding of limitations and affordances of online platforms for engaging youth with maker education programs. Our findings suggest that even though the online adaptation of a maker program introduces real challenges in building technical skills, we see potential benefits for online interactions that support collaboration and teamwork. Our findings will inform the design of maker workshops that leverage the benefits of both in person and online activities.

Authors

• Elham Beheshti, ETS

• Yessenia Argudo, New York Hall of Science

• Stephen M. Uzzo