Maker Ed at the World Maker Faire

September 24, 2012 by AnnMarie Thomas

This is an exciting week for the Maker Education Initiative: we’re packing our bags and heading out to NYC for World Maker Faire! We’re particularly looking forward to the wide assortment of education and young maker focused events happening this weekend.

Education Cafe

The Maker Education Initiative is hosting the Education Cafe! This cozy presentation space in the Young Makers Pavilion will be the site of a variety of workshops, presentations, and discussions over the course of the Faire Weekend.  Look here (click on “Education Cafe”) for the full list of events. There is a great mix of exciting hands-on project sessions, panels who will talk about making in a variety of settings, and facilitated discussion sessions.You’ll notice some familiar names and faces presenting at the faire including Maker Ed guest bloggers Andrew Carle, Ben Esner, Lisa Brahms, Marie Bjerede, and blog coordinator Steve Davee.

Education Focused Talks On Other Stages

The Education Cafe isn’t the only place to go for education and young maker focused programming during the World Maker Faire. Below is a list of some of  the other presentations on these topics!

• “Every Child a Maker”  I’ll be speaking about the Maker Education Initiative and the importance of getting children involved in making. (Auditorium Stage, Saturday, 12:00-12:30 pm)
• “FIRST for the Future” Jon Dudas, the president of FIRST and the former Under secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, will speak about FIRST and the importance of collaboration. (Auditorium Stage, Saturday, 12:30-1:00 pm)
• “3D Printing Goes Mainstream: Present and Future Applications at Work, Home, and School” This panel will discuss the current state of affairs within the 3D printing community, as well as what the future may hold. (Make: Live Stage, Saturday, 1:30-2:30 pm)
• “Preparing for College: What’s a Maker To Do?” Stu Schmill, MIT’s Dean of Admissions, will offer advice to student as to how best to prepare for the college experience and application process. (Auditorium Stage, Sunday, 3:00-3:30 pm)
• “Making Young Makers” Panelists will share details of youth maker spaces and programs from around the country. (Make: Live Stage, Saturday, 3:00-4:00 pm)
• “Meet the Young Makers” This panel, moderated by Mark Greenlaw, will consist of six amazing young makers from around the world. (Make: Live Stage, Sunday, 12:00-1:00 pm)

Young Makers

The Young Makers Pavilion will be full of amazing young makers from around the country who will be showing off the things they’ve made and helping other kids get started in making. Pavillion sponsor Cognizant will also be hosting an amazing hands-on space, where young makers from their after-school and summer programs will be teaching others how to use a variety of fabrication and computational tools.

Come see us at the Education Cafe in the Young Makers tent! Steve Davee, Paloma Garcia-Lopez and I will be there both days.  We look forward to meeting you!