How Silicon Valley Influences Public School Curriculum

Natasha Singer wrote a few weeks ago in the New York Times about the impact Silicon Valley is having in and on public education. This is part of an ongoing series that I’ve been waiting for some time for someone outside … Read more >

End-of-year maker reflections

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I’m noodling these days on the theme of program evaluation — those times when we step aside and take stock of what we’ve done, what we’re planning to do, where we’re succeeding, and where we’re failing. It’s also a time … Read more >

Making, Citizen Science, and the Anticipated EPA Budget Reductions

I’ve had four things rolling in my head lately:

  1. The end of Dale Dougherty’s book Free to Make, in which he articulates a future for making;
  2. My own nagging sense that making should ideally serve some greater purpose;
  3. Some research I’m
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In the new administration, what’s the role of the maker movement?

I’m going to be honest: after Election Day, I was pretty convinced that there would be little interest in the maker movement from the incoming Executive Branch. So I was surprised to see that the conservative Brookings Institution has just … Read more >

Toy Take Apart

Over the past few months, we’ve been piloting Toy Takeapart at our statewide MakerFest events and Michigan Makers after-school program. It’s pretty close to a sure-fire hit.

MM Toy Take Apart 11/22/2016

We visit our favorite end-of-the-line thrift store outlet, where we can buy electronic … Read more >

Book Recommendation: Innocent Experiments by Rebecca Onion

Remember this clip from the White House Science Faire of President Obama helping 8th grader Joey Hudy shoot off a marshmallow cannon he made with the help of the folks at Home Depot? So did reporter and author Rebecca Onion, … Read more >

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