Kickstarting Making seeks to fund maker education in Pittsburgh-area classrooms

Most people are familiar with the online crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, which brings in small donations to projects that need a boost. It’s helped to fund close to 100,000  projects by artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators. Now, Kickstarter is teaming up with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for the Kickstarting Making project, which seeks to turn students into makers by integrating unique, hands-on learning ideas into schools.

Ten diverse schools in the Pittsburgh region were chosen to partner with the Children’s Museum through June 2016. These schools will raise funds for their making projects in the PghKidsMake section of Kickstarter.

Teresa DeFlitch, project manager for Kickstarting Making, explains the concept of maker learning and its value in and out of the classroom. “Making promotes creative expression, critical thinking and other skills and mindsets through hands-on experiences,” she says. When kids make something, they tackle open-ended problems; they tinker; they build with old and new technologies. Simply put, they are free to explore and learn by doing.

Research shows that integrating making into learning allows students to explore their interests as they become familiar with different types of tools, materials and process, such as a design or engineering process. “This often leads to increased engagement, empowerment and agency as students become active learners,” says DeFlitch. “There is also evidence demonstrating that making in advancing learners’ capacity for STEM disciplines and careers.”

The 10 schools in the project— Burgettstown Elementary Center, Cecil Intermediate School, Environmental Charter School, Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School, Kiski Area Upper Elementary School, Ligonier Valley High School, Monesson Elementary Center, Pittsburgh Lincoln PreK-5, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills Intermediate Center and Yeshiva Schools and Lubavitch Center of Pittsburgh—were selected based on the quality and creativity of their plans to integrate maker learning into their curriculum.

Each of the schools worked with the museum to refine ideas, explore project focus areas such as entrepreneurship, math, bicycle safety and industrial design, and spread the word throughout their communities. The Children’s Museum is also assisting each school in identifying local stakeholders to support their ideas, and strategizing with regional resources like the Remake Learning Council to reach a broader audience.

The schools’ projects cover a range of topics, but they all focus on transforming the traditional classroom. Ligonier Valley, for example, wants to nurture student makers and entrepreneurs in the local business community with a media lab, fabrication studio and machine shop. The Environmental Charter School aptly focuses their maker project on challenging students to explore food justice and the equitable growing, processing and distribution of food. And Pittsburgh Lincoln wants to create an outdoor maker space, with butterfly gardens and community food gardens.

To learn more about all of the schools’ maker projects and support Pittsburgh-area kids as the learn by tinkering, problem solving and exploring, visit kickstarter.com/pages/pghkidsmake.

Photo courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh/Larry Rippel