Why Teachers Are Coming to Maker Faire
A couple of weeks ago I shared the educational freebies and discounts we are offering to teachers and students. As teachers have been requesting their free admission, we've heard from teachers from all over California telling us why they want to come to Maker Faire, both first-timers and "I'll-never-miss-it"s. I wanted to pass along some of my favorite reasons that they have shared:
"I’m always interested in ideas that get students to apply their knowledge in new ways. I think it’s especially important to expose students to different kinds of careers available to them from a young age. How many 8-year-olds even know what an engineer is, but how many of them would think it was cool if they did?" -- Jeannie B., a teacher at a charter elementary school in Oakland
“It was the best field trip all year, bar none! I think we all pretty much thought it was heaven on Earth.” -- Amy, a teacher in Fremont
"I believe that having my students attend the Maker Faire will give them a new perspective on how to apply the physics principles they're learning in the classroom, and what it takes to build a working prototype from scratch." -- Shahram M., a science teacher in San Francisco
"I've heard that it is a fantastic event. A must-see if you are a Physics Teacher. It would be nice to attend because it would give me ideas for class projects. I've seen some projects in Make magazine and I would like to experience some in person." -- Doug Miller, a high school science teacher in San Jose
"Maker Faire always gives me ideas about new projects I can do with my science students. It energizes and reinvigorates my curriculum." -- Shelley M., a high school science teacher in Oakland
"Many of my students are more interested in the creative, hands-on approach to learning and that interest of theirs can be an entry point to hook them into reading and writing when more traditional topics cannot. The vast variety of exhibits and demonstrations I saw last year gave me many ideas that I have used to spark the students' interest...some in welding, others in using light sensors that can force a robot to change directions. I want MORE! -- Pam K. a college literature and language professor in Modesto
I like to build things and find that students get excited when I/we use a piece of equipment that I made. Making things also allows my yearly budget to go further because I don't have to pay a lot of money to the big science supply houses. I am hoping to get a lot of ideas that I can take back to my classroom and that will allow me to get my students using tools and building things, something that I haven't done a lot of but want to do more." -- Mr. CJ C., a science teacher at an urban charter high school in Richmond and a member of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute
"I love the projects and innovative people that attend Maker Faire. I learned a lot last year and my students value many of the ideas we bring back. I can't wait!" -- Craig Y., an elementary school teacher in Gardena
"I promote the Faire all year round. It brings together so much of our world today; science, art, technology. I wish Maker Faire was not just a weekend but accessible all year round. It's better and more exciting than the holiday season for my kids and family. Such an exciting and inspiring event!" -- Nancy G., a middle school art teacher in San Francisco
"I got to come for the first time last year and was really bowled over!" -- Rose J. a science teacher at the Academy of Personalized Learning in Redding
"Last year was my first year at Maker Faire and I learned so much and discovered so many new ideas that I used with my students and shared with my fellow teachers. I even helped my older pre-Ks use LEDs for their Halloween project this year. I hope that this year I will get to do the same as well and even discover more neat and exciting projects." -- Sheena L, a preschool teacher in San Francisco
"I'm always interested in finding stuff to excite my students' natural curiosity." -- Sandy M., a 7th grade science teacher in San Jose
"Our students live in a low-income Latino community. Many of their parents have not attended college. The Maker Faire is a great way to expose them to hundreds of interesting projects and people." -- Thomas Z., a college prep teacher in East San Jose
"I went to the Maker Faire for the first time last year and I found that it is a wonderful source of inspiration for my teaching. I added a "Tinkering" elective which was extremely popular. We made marshmallow shooters (which I first tried at the Faire), bouncy robots (also an idea from the Faire). I would like to go to the Faire again because I only got a little taste last year. I'm looking for new ideas, and to connect with other tinkerers/makers/educators. This year, I'm encouraging many of my students to go as well as my friends." -- Tiffany T., an art, computer science, and science teacher at a private middle school in San Francisco
"My job is exhausting and draining and I need things like the Maker Faire to keep me creative and excited about creativity so I can bring this energy back to my class." -- L.P., an elementary school teacher in Oakland
"We went when Maker Faire began, and it has been an event we look forward to every year! And now we get to watch on TV too! Maker Faire is an amazing place for [our students] to see what others have dreamt and made -- and serve as a perfect outside model of the practical and creative application of integrated subjects." -- Samantha C., a teacher in Richmond
"It is my job to differentiate academics to meet the unique needs of students with special needs. California Educational standards in areas of technology, math, and science are addressed at Maker Faire and will enhance and promote student’s academic imagination and activity of our diverse learners." -- Diane K., a junior-high special education teacher in Petaluma
"My class is a vibrant, sassy and intelligent bunch of kids predominantly coming from working-class and under-privileged backgrounds. We do a lot of hands-on activities in the classroom, on what budget we can. I believe learning more tricks and hands-on experiential activities is the key to successful teaching." -- Jason R., a student teacher in an 8th-grade science classroom in Berkeley
"Since our budget is limited, we make a lot of our items by using everyday objects in unusual ways and encourage students to do the same on their long-term projects and models. I have never attended Maker Faire and think I would learn a lot from what I see there and benefit greatly from the exhibitors' creativity!" -- Maureen H., an 8th grade science teacher in Pleasant Hill
"I do a lot of projects with the students. Recently I have been trying to find out how to make a pin-hole camera that works (cheaply and without a dark room) to help students get a better understanding of how light behaves. I have been scanning the net and found many models for cameras. I did find a few suggestions for developing pictures without a dark room, but am not too sure how well they will work and how much the equipment would cost! Kids love to make stuff and the more I can help them make, the more they will actually learn the concepts that they are supposed to." -- Jennifer Fernandes, a high school science teacher in San Jose
"I teach students who have moderate to severe cognitive delays and students with physical disabilities. I went to the Maker Faire last year, and I think my students would really enjoy all the hands-on activities as well as the visual excitement of the faire." -- Natalie F., a special education teacher in a high school in San Francisco
"For most of my students, the only time they leave their neighborhoods is to take public transport to school. I think this would be a great opportunity for them to explore their "creative scientific" sides and to offer them a chance to expand their perceptions of what they can do." -- Beth Napier, a public high school teacher in Oakland
"I’m always interested in ideas that get students to apply their knowledge in new ways. I think it’s especially important to expose students to different kinds of careers available to them from a young age. How many 8-year-olds even know what an engineer is, but how many of them would think it was cool if they did?" -- Jeannie B., a teacher at a charter elementary school in Oakland
“It was the best field trip all year, bar none! I think we all pretty much thought it was heaven on Earth.” -- Amy, a teacher in Fremont
"I believe that having my students attend the Maker Faire will give them a new perspective on how to apply the physics principles they're learning in the classroom, and what it takes to build a working prototype from scratch." -- Shahram M., a science teacher in San Francisco
"I've heard that it is a fantastic event. A must-see if you are a Physics Teacher. It would be nice to attend because it would give me ideas for class projects. I've seen some projects in Make magazine and I would like to experience some in person." -- Doug Miller, a high school science teacher in San Jose
"Maker Faire always gives me ideas about new projects I can do with my science students. It energizes and reinvigorates my curriculum." -- Shelley M., a high school science teacher in Oakland
"Many of my students are more interested in the creative, hands-on approach to learning and that interest of theirs can be an entry point to hook them into reading and writing when more traditional topics cannot. The vast variety of exhibits and demonstrations I saw last year gave me many ideas that I have used to spark the students' interest...some in welding, others in using light sensors that can force a robot to change directions. I want MORE! -- Pam K. a college literature and language professor in Modesto
I like to build things and find that students get excited when I/we use a piece of equipment that I made. Making things also allows my yearly budget to go further because I don't have to pay a lot of money to the big science supply houses. I am hoping to get a lot of ideas that I can take back to my classroom and that will allow me to get my students using tools and building things, something that I haven't done a lot of but want to do more." -- Mr. CJ C., a science teacher at an urban charter high school in Richmond and a member of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute
"I love the projects and innovative people that attend Maker Faire. I learned a lot last year and my students value many of the ideas we bring back. I can't wait!" -- Craig Y., an elementary school teacher in Gardena
"I promote the Faire all year round. It brings together so much of our world today; science, art, technology. I wish Maker Faire was not just a weekend but accessible all year round. It's better and more exciting than the holiday season for my kids and family. Such an exciting and inspiring event!" -- Nancy G., a middle school art teacher in San Francisco
"I got to come for the first time last year and was really bowled over!" -- Rose J. a science teacher at the Academy of Personalized Learning in Redding
"Last year was my first year at Maker Faire and I learned so much and discovered so many new ideas that I used with my students and shared with my fellow teachers. I even helped my older pre-Ks use LEDs for their Halloween project this year. I hope that this year I will get to do the same as well and even discover more neat and exciting projects." -- Sheena L, a preschool teacher in San Francisco
"I'm always interested in finding stuff to excite my students' natural curiosity." -- Sandy M., a 7th grade science teacher in San Jose
"Our students live in a low-income Latino community. Many of their parents have not attended college. The Maker Faire is a great way to expose them to hundreds of interesting projects and people." -- Thomas Z., a college prep teacher in East San Jose
"I went to the Maker Faire for the first time last year and I found that it is a wonderful source of inspiration for my teaching. I added a "Tinkering" elective which was extremely popular. We made marshmallow shooters (which I first tried at the Faire), bouncy robots (also an idea from the Faire). I would like to go to the Faire again because I only got a little taste last year. I'm looking for new ideas, and to connect with other tinkerers/makers/educators. This year, I'm encouraging many of my students to go as well as my friends." -- Tiffany T., an art, computer science, and science teacher at a private middle school in San Francisco
"My job is exhausting and draining and I need things like the Maker Faire to keep me creative and excited about creativity so I can bring this energy back to my class." -- L.P., an elementary school teacher in Oakland
"We went when Maker Faire began, and it has been an event we look forward to every year! And now we get to watch on TV too! Maker Faire is an amazing place for [our students] to see what others have dreamt and made -- and serve as a perfect outside model of the practical and creative application of integrated subjects." -- Samantha C., a teacher in Richmond
"It is my job to differentiate academics to meet the unique needs of students with special needs. California Educational standards in areas of technology, math, and science are addressed at Maker Faire and will enhance and promote student’s academic imagination and activity of our diverse learners." -- Diane K., a junior-high special education teacher in Petaluma
"My class is a vibrant, sassy and intelligent bunch of kids predominantly coming from working-class and under-privileged backgrounds. We do a lot of hands-on activities in the classroom, on what budget we can. I believe learning more tricks and hands-on experiential activities is the key to successful teaching." -- Jason R., a student teacher in an 8th-grade science classroom in Berkeley
"Since our budget is limited, we make a lot of our items by using everyday objects in unusual ways and encourage students to do the same on their long-term projects and models. I have never attended Maker Faire and think I would learn a lot from what I see there and benefit greatly from the exhibitors' creativity!" -- Maureen H., an 8th grade science teacher in Pleasant Hill
"I do a lot of projects with the students. Recently I have been trying to find out how to make a pin-hole camera that works (cheaply and without a dark room) to help students get a better understanding of how light behaves. I have been scanning the net and found many models for cameras. I did find a few suggestions for developing pictures without a dark room, but am not too sure how well they will work and how much the equipment would cost! Kids love to make stuff and the more I can help them make, the more they will actually learn the concepts that they are supposed to." -- Jennifer Fernandes, a high school science teacher in San Jose
"I teach students who have moderate to severe cognitive delays and students with physical disabilities. I went to the Maker Faire last year, and I think my students would really enjoy all the hands-on activities as well as the visual excitement of the faire." -- Natalie F., a special education teacher in a high school in San Francisco
"For most of my students, the only time they leave their neighborhoods is to take public transport to school. I think this would be a great opportunity for them to explore their "creative scientific" sides and to offer them a chance to expand their perceptions of what they can do." -- Beth Napier, a public high school teacher in Oakland
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