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Abstract

As schools consider new ways to enhance hands-on learning opportunities, many have focused on the emerging “Maker Movement.” As a means to support this trend, the authors share how the College of Education at a state university in northern New Jersey designed and facilitated a Makers Day event to help teacher candidates, teachers, and librarians, to develop insights into the activities for their own community based makerspaces. This article first describes the impetus for carrying out such activities, followed by a literature review, a description of how the event was designed, and our future plans for building on these activities.

Author/Artist Bio

- Heejung An: Heejung An is a professor of educational technology and science education, at the College of Education, William Paterson University. Her main areas of research involve exploring how technology impacts cognition and how P-12 teachers can use technology effectively for teaching and learning. Her current research involves supporting the development of elementary students’ creative writing with coding in the Scratch environment, and how the usage of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math (STEAM) approach impacts upper level elementary and middle school students' learning, problem solving, and their interest in pursuing STEM careers. Dr. An received her Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. - Ellen Pozzi: Ellen Pozzi is an assistant professor and Director of the School Library Media program at the College of Education at William Paterson University. Her research interests include diversity in children’s and young adult literature and the history of librarianship. She is interested in the role of makerspaces in the school library. Dr. Pozzi received her MLIS and Ph.D from Rutgers University.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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