Three Yellowknife students got a chance to showcase to their school board last week what theySA国际影视传媒檝e been learning in a new type of classroom at Weledeh Catholic School.
Unlike a typical class, SA国际影视传媒渕aker spaceSA国际影视传媒� is filled with gadgets SA国际影视传媒� everything from 3D printers to old sewing machines SA国际影视传媒� and gives students a chance to work on their own inventions using the tools they find around them.
SA国际影视传媒�ISA国际影视传媒檓 a really creative person and maker space helps me stretch my creativity to the maximum,SA国际影视传媒� said student Elizabeth Gillard, who spoke to board members with fellow maker space helpers Ann Huynh and Kate Burt last Wednesday.
Gillard said she feels the class could help her with job opportunities in the future.
And her classmates agreed.
SA国际影视传媒�Every job, you have to have a bit of imagination, especially if youSA国际影视传媒檙e an inventor,SA国际影视传媒� Huynh said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you want to build something, you have to know what you want to build.SA国际影视传媒�
For Burt, maker space allows her to let her imagination run free, she told board members.
SA国际影视传媒�ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many things in the class that you can build, touch, make,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
That kind of imagination is the idea teacher Trent Hamm was getting at when he offered to run the class for the first time this year.
SA国际影视传媒�The vision was just to give kids a chance to have a creative avenue, to have a place to be inventive,SA国际影视传媒� he told the board.
It also allows them to delve into the STEM subjects SA国际影视传媒� science, technology, engineering and math SA国际影视传媒� while having fun.
But the point isnSA国际影视传媒檛 to be successful every time; failing is the most important part of learning in the maker space class, according to Hamm.
Board members wanted to know more about the studentsSA国际影视传媒� favourite failures in maker space.
The three students talked about how they tried to build homes, cars and crafts, but struggled to find the right materials to make them work.
SA国际影视传媒�TheySA国际影视传媒檙e going to fail a thousand times,SA国际影视传媒� Hamm said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut thatSA国际影视传媒檚 OK, because when you fail, you learn.SA国际影视传媒�
He said the maker space class has helped alleviate some of the pressure of a regular classroom setting and allowed students to learn at their own pace.
According to Weledeh principal Todd Stewart, who was also in attendance, itSA国际影视传媒檚 helping move the school toward 21st century learning.
The students got a big round of applause before John Bowden, assistant superintendent of learning, thanked the students for their courage in sharing their learning experiences with board members.
SA国际影视传媒�ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of that being creative and imaginative and thinking on your feet,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淐ongratulations on being part of maker spaces and making it a dynamic and exciting place to learn.SA国际影视传媒�
