Call it “tinkering, “hands on learning,” or “DIY” (do-it-yourself), the maker movement in education encourages children to learn by doing. “Maker spaces” are the modern equivalent of shop class, but with materials and tools designed to spark the interest and develop the problem-solving skills of tomorrow's inventors and scientists.
A shared emphasis on hands on learning creates a natural affinity between early childhood education and the maker movement. In Maker Spaces for Early Learners: Q&A, read how Nan Stifel, a librarian at an independent school, is creating a maker space for children in grades pre-K-3.
How the Maker Movement Is Transforming Education provides a great introduction to the ideas animating this trend.