Blogpost #2 Makers in the Classroom

     The article, Makers in the Classroom: A How-To Guide, at https://www.edsurge.com/news/2014-05-14-makers-in-the-classroom-a-how-to-guide, is probably a good start for me. I am always looking for new ways to teach by doing things rather than lecture and worksheets of text-based learning. I am also always mindful of the requirements of the common core standards, or Alaska  standards as we know them.
     I have always used a hands-on approach to teaching, but found it challenging to stay on pace with the requirements for each quarter. I think I have learned to balance it sufficiently enough to give my students the opportunities they need to really learn. I like the way the article highlights the importance of understanding restraints and limitations on what you can accomplish while still meeting the intent of the curriculum.
     Additionally, sometimes simpler is better as reflected in the article. Sometimes we lose focus on what the real-world application is for the tasks we assign students. I have worked extremely hard to make lessons relevant and tie them to real-world applications within the classroom. The most elaborate plans can sometimes be replaced with something the students can actually do.
     I teach an Alaska Native Science and Engineering (ANSEP) class for 4th and 5th graders before school 4 days a week. My classes are project-based, concentrating on doing rather than teaching. This year, we built rockets, designed and built model houses, bridges, and a working teeter-totter, and a myriad of other activities throughout the year. We even built a city to scale in Mindcraft, including industrial and residential areas to learn more about planning and zoning. Embedded in these projects are of the requirements for understanding measurements like scale, area, volume, ratios, probability, weight and balance, as well as governance. The list goes on.
     My ANSEP class is already project based. The challenge now, is to find ways to incorporate that style of teaching in the regular classroom. I do use some of the same concepts and plans in my classroom, but the time constraints can be very restricting. None-the-less, I trek forward in having a makers classroom. This article gives me a lot to think about when planning for this next year. I look forward to doing even more.