Community
Ann Richards School For Young Women Leaders Makerspace Intern
I interned in the Ann Richards School For Young Women Leaders Makerspace during Fall 2021. During this semester-long internship, I worked with 6-12 grade students in whatever projects they were working on for their classes. Many times, I worked with classes as a whole, but I also worked with individuals on personal projects. Three of the most prominent projects I worked on are, 8th grade STEM spotlight, 9th grade Biomed digestive system monster, and 6th grade animal enrichment projects.
The 8th graders were assigned to find a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) woman to spotlight. The students were then assigned to find a picture of their woman and use graphic design to digitally create an outline. In addition to the quotes students found inspirational about their women, they were assigned to add their information in a sensible way to their wood tile. At the end, students laser cut their tile and showcased them outside the classroom for the whole semester. During this process, I was able to go around and help students with their graphic design and mainly help them laser cut their projects.
I was able to work with the 9th grade Biomed teacher to plan her digestive system lesson and monster activity. Since I was able to start from the very beginning with lesson planning, we were able to work together to integrate the making activity flawlessly throughout the lesson. The making activity consisted of recreating the digestive system on a model with everyday material. Since the activity was done during the Halloween period, we also encouraged the students to be creative and create the most creative monster.
I worked with the 6th graders for almost a month and a half for their animal enrichment project. Students were grouped together and partnered with an animal at the Austin Zoo. During their project, they had to research, plan, budget, and build an enrichment for the animals. I helped students every step of the way, even doing Home Depot runs to buy materials. At the very end, I was able to go with the students to the Zoo to see their enrichment in action.
Maker Poster Presentation at the CNS Teaching Poster Presentation
I was invited by Shelly Rodriguez, the UTeach Maker Coordinator, to present a poster on Making to the College of Natural Sciences Teaching Poster Presentation Event. I, along with another fellow maker, were able to present our experiences as makers and how it has helped make our classrooms more engaging and informative. I shared my experience in the UTeach maker program as well as an Ann Richards Makerspace intern.
Overall maker community reflection with a focus on equity, diversity, and access
Everyone can be a maker. Whether it be the 6th grade students I worked with at the Ann Richards School, or my fellow classmates in the Uteach program. Making should be accessible and integrated in the education of all students. Making is not only restrained to 3D printing and laser cutting different objects, making is all around us. It is crucial that teachers learn to use the resources around them to help them with their maker lessons. Making needs to be accessible to all, no matter how much funding a school obtains.
Although makerspaces are commonly the first thing people think about with making, making is everywhere. I first started making the kitchen. I would watch my grandma and mother cook food and then when I was old enough, I started to experiment with ingredients, fermentation, and tempering. Although I was afraid to go into the realm of woodworking and electronics, interning and the makerspace showed me that I was capable of everything my peers were doing around me. It is crucial that these same messages get passed along to children in education. They can find their maker community in a computer lab making video games, in the kitchen cooking, or even in the makerspace.
The community of makers is strong and always helpful. My mentor, Alex, reminded me of when my maker group and I met at her school to work on a maker project together. One of her students came up to ask them questions and started talking to my group member and I. Our conversation of what we were making transitioned into what to study in college and what resources to look for in a college education. Although we weren’t truly discussing making, by grouping makers in a room, conversation easily flows, personal anecdotes are shared, and we always have a great time.