This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
This is no ordinary shop class. Students in our "Makerspace" write computer code, learn to sew, and even use 3D printing to prototype their inventions! Think of it as "Shop Class 2.0," where students are in control of researching problems and developing creative solutions.
Our urban arts school (65% free and reduced price lunch) is full of creative students who specialize in Visual Art, Dance, Theatre Arts, or Music.
The Makerspace allows students to integrate their artistic talents into the STEM field. Students utilize design thinking to prototype solutions to everyday problems. We've had students develop a high-tech solution to curb school bullying, take apart commercial components to repurpose them, and even program Arduino microcontrollers.
My Project
By design, a Makerspace is organized chaos. While some students are may be designing an invention on a whiteboard, others are busy with computer programming, tweaking their prototypes, or working with a mentor. We know students are most driven to create when they have freedom to do so. However, with creative freedom comes the responsibility to be productive and safe. A tool cabinet will allow students to organize and access their supplies for inventing & making much more efficiently. While some drawers will be utilized for standard tools like wire cutters, sewing needles, and a saw, others will be for our high-tech prototyping tools like Arduinos, Makey Makeys, and NXT Robots. All the while, students will be learning Design Thinking, as well as the skills necessary to thrive in a society where versatility is essential.
As students build their creativity and collaboration skills, a tool cabinet will become our "water cooler" of the Makerspace.
It will help material access become a much more efficient process so that students can focus on being creative.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Coach Goodin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
