Learning and developing technical and lifelong skills through digital fabrication. That’s what the project Maker Culture in Education is all about!
Our goal is to bring innovation in education for secondary and elementary schools in the Central Bohemia region. Therefore, we brought a unique program (a combination of methods) developed by experts from the United States and Mexico. Some of the methods used in the program originates at Stanford University and MIT world’s most prestigious universities.
- The program is based on proven methods and approaches:
- Gradual Immersion Method: from 2D to 3D to augmented reality (AR).
- Design Thinking: a user-centered approach.
- Trayekta ideation board
- Maker tools
- From idea to prototype: students solve social challenges from their surroundings connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the form of rapid prototyping.
- This user-centered program includes students and teachers’ self-assessments, and research and evidence-based approach.
- Use of microcontrollers, 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutter, stationary materials, etc. for prototyping.
- The program combines technical abilities and skills needed for the 21st century (e.g. critical thinking, collaboration, communication skills, design) and it develops them simultaneously! For students who are not technically oriented, it leads to an increase of interest in technical and natural sciences.
- It also develops entrepreneurial skills.
The first pilot project was implemented in the Emil Kolben Technical High School in Rakovník with workshops for teachers and for students on November 2019. Watch the video from the workshop below.
The project was also presented at the Maker Faire Prague online edition in on May 30, 2020. An Ideathon for teachers from Central Bohemian is also planned for November 14 this year. In looking for ways to extend this program to other schools, a new milestone was reached on August 2020. Thanks to the cooperation with the Institute of Education and Training of the Central Bohemia Region (VISK), the maker method has been accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the next 3 years. In addition, we will have the first Czech teachers certified as “Maker Fundamentals Certified Technical Collaborator” at the end of this year.
