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You are here: Home / Archives for Makerspace

“Hack School”

January 15, 2016 By:Alison McNee

IMG_2503Research: In our quest to implement our burgeoning makerspace, a team from Chrysalis toured Microsoft last week to see their version, called “The Garage.” While the space itself was inspiring, as they have access to the latest and greatest technology, even more so was the philosophy, attitude, and community that surround it. Our guide, Steve Scallen, reinforced the importance of what he termed “hack culture,” which can be summarized as a penchant for disrupting the conventional or safe way of doing things by asking how else it could be done. An organization that promotes hack culture understands there are many ways to get things done that are meaningful and valuable.

Practice: Applying Scallen’s ideas to Chrysalis, you could say we “hack school!” We often reject the traditional ways that schooling is done in favor of more effective ways to get better results. Where most schools’ practices are dictated by what’s most economically efficient, we look at what’s most efficient for learning, basing our practices on what’s best for the brain and learning at each developmental stage. This happens at many levels…from the construction of nontraditional schedules to alternative demonstrations of what kids know. Hack on, Chrysalis!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: hack school, Makerspace

Makerspace

December 11, 2015 By:Alison McNee

band (2 of 5)Research: A new trend in education is the concept of the “makerspace.” Makerspaces are zones for creativity, where people can access tools and materials to tinker, experiment, and try out new ideas. It’s student-driven experiential learning in action. Roland Barth, of the Harvard Principals’ Center, notes that such hands-on learning develops risk-taking, purposefulness in learning, the ability to pose important questions, freedom, hard work, collective learning, leadership, and a sense of responsibility for one’s self and others (2001). These are important characteristics not only of a successful student, but of a successful adult more generally.
Practice: We received a generous grant from the Glendorn Foundation to set up our own makerspace this year at the high school, and it’s starting to take form! Several enrichment areas have already been added to the activity room (where students gather between classes), including a sewing station, textile/paper station, game corner, and musical instruments. A workshop is in the works and electronics are coming in the new year! Students are beginning to use the new items in their free time and our hope is to encourage socialization, student-driven projects, peer teaching, and multiple ways to express learning.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: hands-on learning, Makerspace, student-driven projects

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