We are happy to say that we have successfully held our second annual Maker Faire in the Doucette Library.
Amid the bubbles, limbo, musical instruments and dress up clothing, we hosted about 300 students and their prototypes. For anyone quick enough to think of the implications of this many prototypes in one place, they photographed lesson plans, materials and prototypes for a file of great ideas that may suit their teaching sometime in the future.
What exactly were we doing? There was method in this madness for many reasons. We were showing students what a Maker Faire in their school or classroom may look like. We wanted students to see what kind of celebration students would take part in after working through their own problem solving using the design thinking process to prototype ideas and various outcomes.
We also wanted students to feel the engagement that is prevalent when design thinking is introduced into a project. Creativity and innovation abound when few boundaries are put in place and students are allowed to draw on their own strengths to research and work through a problem.
We wanted also to celebrate the amazing work that has taken place over the last two years by these pre-service teachers. As they launch to schools for their final practicum and to jobs in the teaching workforce, we hope they remember the Doucette Library has amazing resources for them to draw upon and that they return to make use of them.
And at this moment, I would like to thank my “partner-in-crime,” Tammy Flanders whose wonderful ideas and willingness to wear a tutu for a cause are second to none. If you have a partner teacher like my partner librarian, your work life will be a breeze. And I would also like to thank Dr. James Paul and his continual endorsement of the Doucette Library. Our Maker Faire was a success because of all of the people involved.
Doucette Ed Tech 