Thinking and Learning in the Maker-Centered Classroom (TLMCC)

Discover how maker-centered learning prepares students of all ages to thrive in a complex world.

Overview

Over the past decade, maker-centered learning has become increasingly popular, providing students and their teachers with new opportunities to build, hack, redesign, and tinker with a variety of materials in a variety of ways. Maker-centered learning offers opportunities to learn about new tools and technologies, but more than that, it fosters important thinking skills—such as adaptability, collaborative thinking, risk-taking, and multiple-perspective taking—that are critical to thriving in a complex world.

Drawing on research from Project Zero’s Agency by Design (AbD) project, Thinking and Learning in the Maker-Centered Classroom offers classroom teachers, maker educators, administrators, and parents an opportunity to explore maker-centered learning practices and the opportunities they afford. Through hands-on, collaborative activities, participants will discover tools to support maker-centered learning in their settings while examining the benefits to both young people and facilitators.

Course Details

The online course, developed by Project Zero’s Jennifer Ryan & Edward Clapp, begins with a one-week orientation, during which you will explore the online platform and get to know fellow members of the learning community. Six two-week content sessions follow, with an average time commitment of about 3-4 hours per week. In each session you will:

• Learn new ideas
• Review and reflect on key ideas from the previous session
• Plan for trying and/or fully implementing course ideas in the classroom
• Work on a project or curriculum unit
• Reflect and share feedback with a coach and peers

Enrollment is by team, which promotes a deeper and richer learning experience and will help you sustain your use of core ideas after the course concludes. Team members will collaborate on most of the assignments, including the development of a project. Teams meet face-to-face every two weeks and so all team members will need a regular common meeting time throughout the term.

Although the sessions are structured and coach-facilitated, all the online interactions in the course are asynchronous. You and your team can decide when to work on the course materials as long as you submit the assignment(s) on or before the due dates.

This online course is not linked to a degree program. Academic credit is not available. You will be eligible for a digital certificate representing 45 professional development hours upon successful completion.

View the course outline for additional information on course sessions.

Online Course Schedule

Please review the course schedule to ensure that you and your team will be able to participate fully in the course, taking into account your local holidays and vacations. The average time commitment is about three to four hours per week.

Session 1 (Orientation week), February 24 – March 1
Session 2, March 2 – March 15
Session 3, March 16 – March 29
Session 4, March 30 – April 12
Session 5, April 13 – April 26
Session 6, April 27 – May 1
Session 7, May 2 – May 24

Objectives

• Develop an understanding of the concept of maker-centered learning, its contemporary origins, and its implications for education
• Become familiar with an instructional framework that supports maker-centered learning
• Learn to thoughtfully develop maker-centered learning experiences to meet the goals of your learning environment

Who Should Attend

This course requires enrollment by teams of 3-6 people. Teams need to be able to meet locally, in person, at least once every two weeks. Teams can be comprised of:

• Educators, administrators, and curriculum designers who want to explore maker-centered learning experiences in formal and informal learning environments (course content is equally applicable to those working with elementary school, secondary school, higher education, and adult learners)
• Out of school educators and museum educators
• Participants with a working knowledge of maker-centered learning and those who are new to the concepts of making and design in the educational sphere

Course Textbook

The following textbook is required for participants in this course, and is not included in the course tuition. The textbook is available for purchase on Amazon or through the publisher Jossey-Bass — in both paper and digital format.

• Maker-Centered Learning: Empowering Young People to Shape Their Worlds by Edward P. Clapp, Jessica Ross, Jennifer O. Ryan, Shari Tishman (Jossey-Bass, 2016)

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency is a requirement for application to and successful participation in this online course. All participants are expected to have fluency in English, including a basic knowledge of education terminology, in order to effectively engage with the content, complete assignments, and interact with other members of the learning community.

Fees and Policies

This online course is focused on professional development and not linked to a degree program at HGSE. Academic credit is not available for this online course. You will be eligible for a digital certificate representing 45 professional development hours upon successful completion of the course.

Payment or a purchase order must be received within thirty days of course acceptance and prior to the course start. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, an outstanding balance is maintained until payment is rendered. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid.

Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships are available for Project Zero Online Courses. Click here to learn more.