Taking the Maker Experience From a Local Phenomenon to National Implementation

Graphical Abstract

MAKESHOP at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is open for all to experience hands-on building and tinkering, and their initiative has spread nationwide.

Abstract

The maker movement has swept across the country over the last decade as a means to ignite creativity and support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education (e.g., NYSCI 2013; Peppler and Bender 2013; Honey and Kanter 2013; Sheridan et al. 2014), bring a renewed sense of relevance to school curricula (e.g., Wardrip and Brahms 2014, 2016), and support the development of innovative and entrepreneurial skills (e.g., Benton et al. 2013). Making may be thought of as building or adapting objects using real tools and real materials and engaging learners in the process of using these tools and materials. It is rare to visit a science center or children’s museum without seeing a space dedicated to making. Schools, too, have looked to the promise of physical and digital making to move traditional K–12 curricula in science and math toward engineering and technology.

Keywords:

• Informal Education

Author Contributions

Chip Lindsey ([email protected]) is director of education at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Lisa Brahms ([email protected]) is director of learning and research at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kathryn Koffler ([email protected]) is manager of Making Spaces at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chip Lindsey

Chip Lindsey ([email protected]) is director of education at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Lisa Brahms

Lisa Brahms ([email protected]) is director of learning and research at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kathryn Koffler

Kathryn Koffler ([email protected]) is manager of Making Spaces at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.