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I have been watching this thread for some time and it has been interesting
to see how the discussion has evolved.  At first I wanted someone to
provide a definition of what 'making' is, but now I think that the
discussion has changed into something more akin to learning.

Explora has a number of 'maker' activities in our classrooms and on our
exhibit floor.  We have spaces that might be considered 'maker', by some
folks.  I use quotes for maker because I do think that the word is a bit of
a buzz word at the moment.  Making is a fundamental experience for all
humans so what we could look at is how Informal Science Education centers
provide learning experiences for our visitors.

I have google in my pocket.  I can look up humanity's current understanding
of anything and everything with it.  And while I can watch yoga on youtube,
nothing beats being in a room with a qualified instructor who will tell me
if my back is arched improperly.  We, as ISEs, have the opportunity to
avoid falling into the school trap of filling people up with 'knowledge'
and instead focus on how to educate people on the processes of science and
technology [making].

Just making this stuff up,

Eric


On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 2:37 PM, Tom Sofer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> I beg to disagree on the notion that "making" is a fad.
> On the other hand, Shoving Makerbots in front of school children and
> expecting the creative sparks to fly probably a IS current fad. sorry for
> being crude, allow me to elaborate.
> Back to the first sentence - Making was never a fad. Making things is part
> of culture. part of being individualistic and thinking different, having a
> vision and the drive to follow it, even if that vision is a weird Halloween
> costume.
> BUT - throughout history when new tools became accessible, our imaginations
> and vision got ahead of practical considerations.
> Consider 25 years ago when it was fashionable for every school to boast a
> super-expensive PC lab, even when the educational merit of then-available
> software was not that high.
> Now consider 12 years ago when it was common knowledge that all students
> should have web-connected PCs instead of notebooks, without a rigid content
> framework to back that up.
> Now it is happening again. Schools are rushing to claim to be the first to
> have a 3D printer (sometimes they will do with just one!). And I am hearing
> of some well-equipped FabLabs almost void of activity or active for just
> few hours per week.
> All this does NOT imply neither that "making is a fad" nor that digital
> manufacturing labs are a bad idea. but consider the basics - new tools are
> becoming accessible. we want to instill the notion that designing and
> building your ideas is fun, cool and pretty easy.
> Is that best done by having them scan and print themselves over a period of
> 60 minutes? or laser cut a drawing they doodled in inkscape? maybe. then
> again, maybe we need to aim higher.
> In every FabLab, magic does happen. creative sparks do fly. we just need to
> help each other "distill" the conditions required to create more of those
> moments, because this time the resources available are, um, less plentiful.
> great preaching to ya. fab on.
>
> Tom Sofer
> FabLab Project coordinator
> MadaTech, National Museum of Science and
> Technology<
> http://www.madatech.org.il/Pages/MenuItemPage.aspx?ObjectMenu=35>
> Haifa, Israel
> Phone - 972-524-277774
> Skype: tomsofer1
>
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> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and
> the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
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-- 
Eric Meyer
Educational Services Director

Explora
1701 Mountain Rd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87104

505-224-8386

www.explora.us
fax 505-224-8310

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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