TIES 2015 Keynote: Sylvia Martinez: A Global Revolution Goes to School-The Maker Movement

Sylvia Lebow Martinez, co-author of the book, "Invent to Learn," was the Monday keynote at the TIES 2015 Conference. 
Maker movement has gotten a lot of buzz lately. 
She noted that she was a pretty good student, and got an engineering degree from UCLA. She was invited to be on a team that designed a GPS navigation system right out of college. She notes that our students today will be given opportunities to try things that are new and seemingly impossible. 
The maker movement is giving students the opportunity to come in contact with tools that they will be seeing the rest of their lives. "Sure, I used a 3D printer in Middle School." 
People all over the world don't have to wait for a company, they can design and problem solve the things they need without big infrastructure.
We are in the "2nd Industrial Revolution!" As manufacturing changes the way the supply chain works, new jobs, skills and opportunities are arising.
What does this say about learning? People are applying their learning to change the world!
Makerfaires are popping up all over. 300,000 people came to the "World Maker Faire" last year. Here's an example:

The enthusiasm, and combination of art and science is truly exciting!
When she and co-author Gary Stager talked to people for their book, the people talked about how they wished school was like "maker faire." They hope the book can serve as a tool for teachers to see how they can make school more project based, meaningful, and authentic. Martinez and Stager now have their own publishing company, and have been working with "Super Awesome Sylvia!"

Three main components of Maker Movement

Fabrication

3-D Printing-Coming soon to shoes, food, clothes and the medical field. By giving students access to a tool like this, they can create authentic items and learn how they can transform the world.

"I can do this! -What more can you want students to say?"

Kids know that they are being invited for their ideas. Even YouTube! These invitations are coming to kids from the world. 3D scans of artifacts, bones, etc. It changes the meaning of primary source. 
On Saturday, I saw a video from Jen Hegna, where for around $300 you can do this yourself!

Physical Computing

Raspberry Pi-$5!!
Arduino-Turn on lights, motors, "If-Then" opportunities
E-Textiles

These are low cost, easy to use items that allow students to create something that can be used in the real world. It's all tied in to the "Internet of Things!" 

Programming

Martinez believes programming is a skill all students should have. It helps students make sense of the world. 
LOGO is a great example, Scratch, and many of the Hour of Code sites are the "grand children" of logo.
An ecosystem is developing where modules are connecting together. Scratch can be linked into 
Beatle Blocks is the next step, that programs in 3 dimensions!

Expand the toolkit! Mix it up!

Cardboard construction using Makedo, Rolobox, or Hummingbird

• Conductive Materials
• Paint
• Sewing
• Paper craft
• Makey Makey
• Hyperduino!

The newest outposts in the maker movement is biology-Rapid prototyping a Euglena Gracilis environment.


Waterfall Design
Spiral Design Boehm 1988 (Rapid Prototyping), a chance to do something again till they get it right.
Computers make design less risky, you can try something, and then adjust.

Martinez talked about the "meaningful adjacencies" involved in designing the 9/11 memorial, so that people's names could be close to those they were close to.

Technologies are allowing us to be our best selves!
Can we do this in schools?
How do I choose, where should I start? 

Learning manifesto: Does the tool support what I believe about learning?

The role of the teacher is to create the conditions for invention rather than provide ready-made knowledge -Pappert

Artist with arduino behind art work

Simple Design process-Get kids working on the process as soon as possible!

Making is not a shopping list, it's a stance towards learning!
Isn't this like "summer camp?" 

Finding ways for kids to find value, helps empower them and builds positive citizens. 

How do teachers learn to teach this way? Have them do it!! 

Constructing Modern Knowledge Conference is a great way to learn it!

Seize this moment in history to give kids the opportunity to change the world!