In #InVinoFab Podcast, Episode #24 @ProfPatrice & @LauraPasquini chat with Brooke Welch (@esbsteamcoord) about all things Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and the value of makerspaces in education! Brooke is the STEAM Coordinator for the Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall Elementary School (https://esb-pentucketrsd-ma.schoolloop.com/), a PK - 6 coed public school in Groveland, MA where she manages the school's Makerspace and Maker education. Discover making at Bagnall: https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios 

Brooke advocates for a wide range of creativity and giving “voice with choice” in her role in supporting her learners. Besides being a dedicated instructor and innovative team leader for STEAM in her school, Brooke really wants to provide an open space to engage, think critically, and involve her students in hands-on, problem-based learning in an educational makerspace environment. She encourages student to tinker, explore, and become their own expert of a a “passion project” they choose to work in the MakerSpace and steamLab at Bagnall. Here are some of the many things we talked about and shared during our pod conversation:

Why Making? Remember when we were taught hands-on skills, talents, and trades in education -- it’s important to have these inquisitive experiences and tinkering applied experiences can spark curiosity and critical thinking. 

What is STEAM? https://educationcloset.com/steam/what-is-steam/

Arts Integration and STEAM Education https://educationcloset.com/ 

Common Core State Standards Initiative http://www.corestandards.org/

-- ISTE 2018 Conferences https://conference.iste.org/2018/

-- MIT Edgerton Center: Makerspace Resources for K-12 Educators http://k12maker.mit.edu/ 

  -- Learning Supported by Making http://k12maker.mit.edu/learning-supported-by-making-2017-18.html

  -- Maker Methodology in K-12 http://k12maker.mit.edu/our-process.html 

-- Destination Imagination https://www.destinationimagination.org/

-- Genius Hour http://geniushour.com/ 

 

“Persistence is huge...I really try to encourage failure and to celebrate failure, because there are so many times that any student or any person is going to fail at something. And to be able to rebound and bounce back from that and try it again -- that’s just a huge skill that we all need.”

 ~Brooke Welch, On the Value of Making in Education

Connect and follow both Brooke’s work, the steamLab and making at Bagnall here:

-- Twitter: @esbsteamcoord 

-- Pentucket Regional School District: https://www.prsd.org/ 

-- Makerspace: https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios/tools-and-training 

-- Innovation Studios: https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios 

-- Passion Projects: https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios/about-1 

-- Design & Engineering Expo https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios/copy-of-community-outreach

-- Community Workshops https://bwelch3.wixsite.com/innovationstudios/book-online 

-- Brooke’s Etsy : https://www.etsy.com/people/brooketrout2 

PODCAST: TeacherCast Educational Network https://www.teachercast.net/ 

WINE: Cabernet Sauvignon 

BOOK: Launch by Jonathan Spencer & A. J. Juliani http://thelaunchcycle.com/ 

Is there someone else we should talk to? Do you have a question or issue we should chat about on a future pod?  Let us know. We’d love to hear from you about whose story we should share on a future #InVinoFab episode. Send us love, suggestions, and comments to: invinofabulum@gmail.com 

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