Making in School
P. S. 185 The Early Childhood Discovery and Design Magnet School is a creative, robust school that incorporates the Lego Lab, cultural and neighborhood resources, and an emphasis on student exploration.
Cohort Member
Maker Educator Emily Cullen
with support from Jane Murphy
Why did you choose a career in education?
I initially sought out a career in education based upon my own experiences growing up. It was challenging for me to motivate and really engage in the material when it was being delivered through text books and lectures. I wanted to create opportunities for experiences and meaning making that all children, including those who may have felt like I did, could benefit from. I enjoy collaborating with children in wondering, exploring, and discovering. I believe that when knowledge is sought out and discovered by a person, it creates an insatiable drive to continue the seeking out of knowledge. This is done through experiences leading to a better understanding of our lives and environments.
What hobbies or other interests have your brought to your classroom?
Nature-Natural materials Art-specifically painting and clay.
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How do you plan on bringing Making to your students this year?
I want the children in my class to use Making as a way to experiment, such as testing hypothesis. I want them to have a 'wondering' in mind, think of a plan to solve or answer the 'wondering,' and then, through trial and error, come to a better understanding of what they were wondering about. I also want them to use it as a way to make meaning. For example when researching parts of the tree, children create their own trees to better understand the parts in relation to the tree and their purpose. I would like the children to also gain a deeper understanding of the tools/materials and how to choose and manipulate them to best fit with their plan. Finally, I would like the children to use Making as a way to express oneself and create for creations sake.
Maker Educator Mike Columbia
with support from Jane Murphy
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18/19 Cohort Member
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Why did you choose a career in education?
Growing up in a family of educators, it almost seems inevitable. I went to college to learn computer graphics, and started a promising career in multimedia. There came a point where I was forced to re-examine my long term goals and chose teaching as a career that could affect a greater impact on the future.
What hobbies or other interests have your brought to your classroom?
I have always enjoyed crafty DIY projects and playing with technology, so a chance to teach Maker in the classroom is kind of a dream job!
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How do you plan on bringing Making to your students this year?
As a former art teacher and technology teacher, I've had the chance to work on "maker-esque" projects with my students, but now I feel like I have the freedom to really push beyond what I was comfortable doing before. It is okay to make a mess! :) My program is a full period of Maker for almost all students in my school from pre-K to grade 5. I'm lucky to be making all day long.
PS 185 - The Early Childhood Discovery and Design Magnet School
District 3 - Harlem
Pre-K - 2
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Making Space
Making at PS 185 is something Principal Jane Murphy has been incorporating into all of her classes. The 2nd grade Teddy Bear project is one example of the use of the design process. Every student was given a teddy bear to make clothes for and to customize using various materials after they designed their bears. They also wrote a letter to their bears explaining how they intended to care for them. Making happens in every class.
Making Experiences
The challenge of bringing Making into every class has called on the teachers to have discussions on what Making is and how to incorporate it into their curriculum in ways that are meaningful.
Making Ideas:
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As stated on their Web site, "New York City's Early Childhood Discovery and Design Magnet School, PS 185, in Harlem, is one of only 8 schools nationwide to win a prestigious LEGO grant to help them improve their students' 21st century skills, including creative problem solving, communication, and collaboration by adopting the LEGO Education BuildToExpress methodology."
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Applying the Design Process to any project will give students rigourous and rich experiences.
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Documenting the process using photographs that can be developed into Digital Portfolios is something Emily is exploring, looking at various tools.
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