Four Styles of Maker Education

A Maker Education promotes design thinking and teaches the engineering process. It also creates a more social and cooperative environment that engages kids in their learning at a deeper level than traditional teaching methods. Here is a short description of  four styles of maker education:

In Project-Based Learning, students learn through creating projects to solve real-world problems.  The projects are set up to satisfy curriculum requirements and take upfront planning by the teacher so they can guide the project successfully. For more on Project-Based Learning, the book LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student is a good place to start.

Phenomenon-Based Learning is geared toward the scientific process. Students work in groups and explore scientific phenomenon in a hands-on manner before they learn the theory. The idea is to spark their curiosity about the phenomenon to engage them more in learning. For more on Phenomenon-Based Learning, see Using Physics Gadgets & Gizmos, Grades 9-12: Phenomenon-Based Learning.

In a classroom that uses Maker-Centered Learning, the students are the directors of their learning. Teachers structure assignments and projects that encourage students to work with others and to find ways to solve their own problems. Students may turn to the internet, books, outside experts, or other students to learn a skill rather than ask the teacher. For more on Maker-centered learning, see Maker-Centered Learning: Empowering Young People to Shape Their Worlds.

Informal learning is the type of learning we do the most. It differs from the more formal learning styles in many ways:  There is no formal objective or lesson in mind; It is usually spontaneous; It happens in the course of normal daily conversations and interactions. It is used in school for activities and projects that don’t need to satisfy curriculum requirements. To find out more about Informal Learning, see Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom.