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we could do this NOW!!!

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It could be a lego wall or just a station

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monitor to hook up own nintendo switch

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https://projectnursery.com/2014/05/diy-kids-bean-bag-chair/

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Glow in the dark walls

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snack bar for our learning center

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Sleep Place/ Relax

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In part eight of his year-long series, Kevin Jarrett reveals the power of a four-word design thinking mantra dominating the wall of his middle-school makerspace.

Photo credit: Kevin Jarrett

Care. Think. Design. Act. These words are the first thing that people see when entering Digital Shop, our middle school makerspace. This mantra anchors the threshold experience, a visitor's first visual impression of the space.

But what do the words really mean, individually and collectively? Why those words, in that order? And how do they resonate with our learners and with my colleagues in regard to their impressions of the program?

In the Beginning. . .

In July 2015, we visioned our program during a design charrette with the help of designer/consultant David Jakes. The latter part of that day involved synthesizing an entire morning's worth of ideas into our Manifesto or credo -- what we do and why we do it. As we summarized the day's thoughts into a coherent whole, four crucial concepts became clear amid all the post-its, stickers, and scribblings on bulletin board paper:

1. We wanted our kids to care about problems they see in the world, acknowledging our desire to have empathy become the anchoring force in our learning community.

2. We wanted our kids to think deeply about the problems, coming to an understanding of what each problem really is.

3. We wanted them to use their creativity and imagination to design something (an object, process, or system) that could solve the problem.

4. We wanted them to act toward putting their design into production, whether that meant creating a physical prototype to present or a behavior that they or others can exhibit.

With that as guidance, our manifesto came to life:

Caring: We listen, we admire, we question, we connect, we wonder, we appreciate, we celebrate The Human Condition.

Thinking: Then we ask, "How might we?" "What if?" "Yes, and?" . . .

Designing: . . . so that we suggest a plausible future.

Acting: . . . so that we build, create, make, extend, unify, and believe in The Human Condition.

And thus, our mantra was born: "Care. Think. Design. Act." When I approached my friend and colleague Monica Keenan (also mom to an NCS eighth-grade student) about painting the words on a wall in my space, she suggested vinyl decals from Do It Yourself Lettering. We quickly chose the font, colors, and size we wanted, placed the order, and within about a week had our four giant decals ready for installation.

Reaction Time

With the space completed, all that was left was to see the impression that it made on visitors. Kids were the first to see it. I recall overhearing a few of them read the words aloud as they entered the room. We felt the meaning would be intuitively obvious to a casual observer because the beauty of the mantra is its simplicity. But would students make the connection between all four words to see the larger picture, the importance of empathy, and how the mantra (and the larger Manifesto) was a call to action, not just a handy slogan? Would they get it?

Yes, they would -- and none more so than Isabelle V., a sixth-grade student who, with nothing more than an assignment to "create an iMovie trailer," made this terrific one-minute tribute to our program, how it impacts her, and how it and she will change the world.

But wait, there's more! We're currently in the midst of our third Design Experience (DE.3), The Weather Challenge. Winter storm Jonas hit our area in January 2016. Though we did not get as much snow as surrounding areas, it was still a major event, providing the perfect context for a lesson on design thinking, and a field test of the mantra. (Special thanks to Mary Cantwell for the idea.) Kids are being challenged to explore the impact of the recent severe weather, both negatively (injuries/deaths, property damage, disruption to pets or wildlife) and positively (recreational opportunities, time off school, time to spend with family), to come up with inventions that solved problems or made life better. So far, students have come up with:

In every situation, students had to care about a problem or issue, think how they might solve the problem, design a solution, and then act on or create it.

Parents Weigh In

While students are primarily served by our program, they're not the only ones to see and experience the magic. Our mantra is an equal-opportunity inspirer. Everyone can care, think, design, and act -- it's about empowerment, contributing to the greater good, and changing the world. Here's what some parents are saying:

"I love what is happening in the school. It feels so fresh and innovative."

"I love that there is no limit to what they can dream up, create, and aspire to. That is really the take-home message of the year -- anything is possible, just give it a try. No limits. The kids aren't treated as 'just kids.' Their ideas and thoughts are important and are taken seriously. And they are 'doing,' not 'listening,' in the design studio."

"The program is opening up a world of possibilities for the students' futures and giving them advanced experience in fields that are growing in today's world. There is something to interest everyone, and the program may only be limited by one's own imagination. A child who struggles in other parts of the school day can flourish with creative, hands-on class time that will only benefit his future."

"My son comes home from school excited to share what's new, what he is creating and/or working on. Today he spent a good 15 minutes explaining to me their invention to melt the snow in the driveway. Definitely a far cry from me asking how his day was and him saying 'OK' or 'boring.' Now he tells me how fun school is!"

"I have definitely witnessed my son's interest in technology increase as well as seeing that spark of creativity lit. Never did I think he would want to build or design anything, and now he is always on his tablet designing buildings or neighborhoods, using empty boxes and cushions to make a car or something, and also teaching himself how to make gaming videos, etc."

Staff Has Their Say

A seventh-grade teacher observes:

"Students are showing a new love for education in the classroom as a result of the new program. The middle school in general has seen a huge transformation. Students, staff, and administration have worked together to make learning not only fun but challenging. As a result, students have been more inquisitive in class, [striving] to produce a better quality of work."

One middle-school specials teacher declares:

"This program is like nothing I've ever seen before! It's about the kids actively learning, having a purpose, working together, problem solving, and enjoying themselves all at the same time -- every class, every day. This class allows kids to be creative, think in ways they've never thought before! This is the best thing that has happened in Northfield Schools. You will not believe the change in students! More confident, happy to be in school, eager to share ideas, eager to learn."

Another seventh-grade teacher adds:

"The digital shop is a place for students to learn without even knowing it. I have never seen a student not want to join in the fun. Students look busy and happy, completely engaged."

Student Voices

And let's hear from the students themselves. One sixth-grade boy says:

"I learned that I can push myself over the limit and do something great."

A seventh-grade girl tells us:

"When I'm in Digital Shop, I feel like I'm able to create the inventions I've always wanted. I've learned that if I am interested in doing something, I will do anything to stick to the subject until it's perfectly finished. Even though I mess up, it's fun to go to Digital Shop and try again."

An eighth-grade boy admits:

"I'm more creative than I thought, and I'm good at making prototypes."

And this, from another seventh-grade girl:

"One thing I have learned about myself is that I can do way more than I expected. I walked into Digital Shop looking at other people's amazing work, thinking I would never be able to create something that good. But with the right amount of time and patience, I am getting closer and closer to the designer I would like to be."

So there you have it. It's hard to believe that four words, plastered on the wall in giant letters, can make such an impact -- or maybe it's not that hard. In our program, design thinking is the engine, passion and imagination are the fuel, and creativity and innovation are the exhaust. We've got the pedal to the metal, and we're having the time of our lives!

If you don't have a program like this in your school, getting one started might be easier than you think. Gather your stakeholders, dream big, come up with a manifesto to guide you, and invest in the space, the program, and the kids. You'll be glad you did!

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Middle School Maker Journey: The Making of a Mantra

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In part eight of his year-long series, Kevin Jarrett reveals the power of a four-word design thinking mantra dominating the wall of his middle-school makerspace. Photo credit: Kevin Jarrett Care. Think. Design. Act. These words are the first thing that people see when entering Digital Shop, our middle school makerspace.

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do students like a variety of seating options?

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do students like a variety of seating options?

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Comfortable seating that can be rearranged for leisure reading or meeting

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Comfortable seating that can be rearranged for leisure reading or meeting

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Group work stations with large screen for sharing

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Group work stations with large screen for sharing

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In part five of his year-long series, Kevin Jarrett highlights the tools and systems that drive the excitement and invention in his middle school makerspace.

Photo credit: Kevin Jarrett via flickr (CC BY 2.0)

"It's not about the tool," they say -- but sometimes it is. In our middle school makerspace, students have been using a variety of tools and technologies in a variety of projects and activities. And there are many more that we've yet to explore and experience.

While our makerspace is still in its infancy, it feels like we've had the program forever. As of this writing, a second group of students is in the midst of Design Experience One. We haven't had that much time to delve into projects in depth, but you can expect more from us later in the year.

Before I go any further, let me say that we realize just how fortunate we are. We have resources that many schools can only dream about (but with a great crowdfunding initiative, that needn't be the case). Northfield is a small town of just under 9,000 people, and a single-building K-8 district. Our per-pupil costs ($16,292 in 2014) are consistently less than New Jersey's state average ($18,891 in 2014). We have extremely supportive community organizations that fundraise tirelessly for us. We, in turn, work hard to wisely design innovative educational experiences for our kids.

The Lure of Bright, Shiny Objects

Makerspaces are too often defined by things -- hardware, software, other technologies -- which can engender a shopping-list mentality among people interested in creating such a learning environment. A true makerspace is defined not by what's in it but rather by what comes out of it: projects, experiences, artifacts, and learning. The tools are just a means to an end. With that proviso, here are the 20 most important tools being used in our space right now.

1. Writeable Desk Surfaces

We want students to collaborate effortlessly, express themselves freely, and do so in ways not possible in other classrooms. We painted several walls in our space with clear dry-erase paint, but more importantly, we painted the work tables with it, too. This is by far the most powerful and popular feature in our Digital Shop. Kids love the freedom that comes with writing on the tables with dry-erase markers. It's fun, fast, easy to clean up, inexpensive, and a winner! We also have this fantastic paint on two wall spaces. Check out this hyperlapse video shot by a student!

2. Hot Glue Guns

Yes, that crafting essential has found its way into our space, and it's probably the second-most popular tool so far. Why? Hot glue does amazing things. It binds dissimilar materials with ease and strength, allowing students to quickly create amazingly detailed prototypes. Cleanup is a snap, and the glue is easily removed, making most parts easily recyclable for other projects. The guns are inexpensive and allow us to talk about and practice tool safety.

3. Chromebooks & Google Apps for Education

Digital Shop is a technology class at its core, so computing technologies are crucial. Google Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education are our go-to for collaborative projects, presentations, writing, research, and most forms of digital creation. We have 12 Chromebooks for students to use and share.

4. PCs & PC-Based Software

Sometimes, we need software that doesn't run on Chromebooks. When Mrs. Stephanie Terista, our seventh-grade ELA teacher, brought her students in to create 3D dioramas for the book Bud, Not Buddy, she had them use our Dell laptops and the free Sketchup Make program. We have 12 PC laptops for students to use and share.

5. Quadrille-Ruled Pads/Journals

Students learn sketching skills in my program, because sketches help them understand how things work and fit together. With sketches, they brainstorm ideas and document their work. We started the school year with quadrille-ruled pads but have since purchased and given every student quadrille-ruled composition books, which they'll use as design journals for the entire school year.

6. littleBits™ Modules

We were very fortunate that our PTO funded a littleBits Pro Library, a massive collection of sophisticated, LEGO-like electronic blocks that snap together, allowing creative minds to bring ideas to life. When combined with found materials like cardboard, the only limit is the kids' imagination.

7. 3D Design Tools

Before talking about our 3D printers, I want to emphasize that 3D design is the crucial part -- 3D printers don't make kids into engineers any more than laser printers makes them into writers. It's not about the tool, it's about what you do with it. We love Tinkercad. It's free, fabulous, and easy to use. We also love the lessons in Autodesk's Project Ignite, which is based on Tinkercad and is also free.

8. 3D Printers

Today, students can hold in their hands a design that they imagined in their mind, a capability that didn't exist until recently. Once kids have designed objects in Tinkercad, they can use one of our three printers -- by Makerbot, Polar 3D, and Lulzbot -- to render it. My program is only just getting started with 3D printing, as we've been focusing on design thinking concepts and other related projects. But some kids have used the 3D printer to design components for those projects.

9. Ready, Set, Design

Ready, Set, Design is a fabulous 45-minute activity that teaches students what it's like to do authentic design via rapid prototyping. It's free, fun, and suitable for learners of all ages.

10. The Extraordinaires™ Design Studio

This imaginative, inexpensive kit is a massive collection of colorful character cards, design challenges, and other resources providing a fantastic introduction to design thinking. Kids are challenged to create solutions that solve problems for these characters using traditional crafting supplies. Their detailed prototypes are whimsical, imaginative, and just plain fun.

11. Dollar Store Items

Nothing says rapid prototyping like easily manipulated materials formed into impressive, well thought out, even partially functional models of ideas brought to life. You can't go wrong with simple items like pipe cleaners, felt, foam, and craft sticks.

12. Free Visual Programming Tools

Students love Scratch and Tickle, which they use for a variety of purposes, from creating book-based video games with Raspberry Pi to commanding our drone armies.

13. Robots/Drones

We have a Parrot Rolling Spider, a Sphero, an Ollie, and two sets of Dash and Dot Wonder Robots. To be honest, we haven't done much formal learning with them because it's still early in the school year. However, that doesn't stop kids from constantly picking them up and playing with them. Our intent is challenging the kids to program them instead of just flying or driving them. We'll be reinforcing that need for algorithmic skills and knowledge soon.

14. Raspberry Pi

As mentioned above, we're working on using Raspberry Pi to create book-based video games. Despite our best efforts, though, the Pi cannot run Scratch 2.0, so our programs need to be written in Scratch 1.4. That said, we do love this Raspberry Pi Starter Kit.

15. iPads

We only have two Airs (three, counting my personal iPad) but they've been invaluable for multimedia content creation with iMovie, photography, and green-screening (we prefer the Touchast app).

16. Shop Aprons & Goggles

These shop aprons were $0.50 each at a local industrial surplus store. The goggles were $0.99 (though they aren't anti-fog and tend to cloud up on warmer days). They're functional and evoke the "shop" vibe that we're going for, and kids love wearing them.

17. LEGOs

I wanted LEGOs for my classroom but was apprehensive about making such a costly purchase. Instead, I asked for donations and scored big time. One family donated 30 pounds of LEGOs, which we use in projects and also when we have extra time for a five-minute LEGO design challenge.

18. Hand Tools

Design Experience Zero, students' first exposure to my program, incorporated a "take-apart" element. We want our kids to learn proper use of simple hand tools, and the results have been fantastic. "Take-apart" has been the single most popular activity that we've had so far.

19. Slatwall

While our versatile walls aren't a tool per se, they're important to the function and style of the makerspace. Slatwall panels add much-needed storage capability and look fantastic.

20. Vinyl Lettering

Inspired by the PBS documentary If You Build It, I wanted our program "mantra" proudly displayed on our wall in giant, colorful lettering. Application was a snap (thanks to dedicated parent volunteer Mrs. Monica Keenan). The letters form the basis of the "threshold experience" as the first thing people see when entering the room.

So there you have it, Digital Shop's Top 20 tools and resources. There are others that we didn't include only because we haven't had time to use them yet. Next month, we'll focus on a more detailed review of what's going well in our middle school makerspace -- and what could improve -- as we head into winter recess. Thanks for reading!

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Middle School Maker Journey: Top 20 Technologies and Tools

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In part five of his year-long series, Kevin Jarrett highlights the tools and systems that drive the excitement and invention in his middle school makerspace. Photo credit: Kevin Jarrett via flickr (CC BY 2.0) "It's not about the tool," they say -- but sometimes it is.

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speed charging stations (like at the airport)

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speed charging stations (like at the airport)