ETT Summit

When people think about Make, images of 3D printers and laser cutters come to mind. This preconception can often lead communities to mistakenly think that a Maker experience is out of reach for their students or users. However, Make is first and foremost a mindset and is accessible to learners of all ages and circumstances. Make grew out of the DIY movement and has morphed into DIT (together) or DIWO (with others), and a MakerSpace experience can start with whatever materials you gather from your own community with a focus on repurposing. Additionally, we can draw on the expertise of community members, and the abundance of Òhow toÓ videos on the internet or books available in the library, to learn how to do almost anything. I want to focus on the qualities that define a Maker Education/Experience, rather than the tools, to address any issues around access and equity that might arise for groups, regardless of financial and material resources. In this interactive session, we will unpack what these qualities mean and how they can be encouraged in individuals and spaces to help Make thrive anywhere. Together, we will create a tool box that anyone can implement now!