Maker Challenge at ISTE2016 in Denver
This year, Nick Provenzano, "The Nerdy Teacher," designed a new type of event for the ISTE conference in Denver. It was dubbed the “MakerChallenge” and would be friendly competition between five teams, each of which would be comprised of an experienced and a novice maker. The "master makers" included a couple of my Denver condomates, Diana Rendina and Colleen Graves. Rounding out the group were Bill Selak, Jeff Branson and David Saunders.
A call went out on Twitter to find educators who would like to pair up with a master maker for this challenge. Of course, I responded. A couple of weeks before the conference was to begin, I received notification that I was selected and would be partnered with David Saunders, an educator and library media specialist from southwestern Connecticut.
A call went out on Twitter to find educators who would like to pair up with a master maker for this challenge. Of course, I responded. A couple of weeks before the conference was to begin, I received notification that I was selected and would be partnered with David Saunders, an educator and library media specialist from southwestern Connecticut.
I had no idea who David was, but we connected on Twitter and finally met in Denver at the ISTE Librarians Network reception on the Monday night before the Maker Challenge. He arrived at the dinner with my two friends, Colleen Graves and Diana Rendina.
The next day, I nervously went to the Embassy Suites for the Maker Challenge. I arrived to a room with five tables filled with SAM labs kits, Makey Makeys, littleBits, a computer and tons and tons of craft supplies! David and I picked our table and waited for instructions. It turned out that our challenge was to "hack a traditional classroom procedure" using only what was on our table and we only had two hours to build a prototype! The whole event would be live streamed through Periscope and there were lots of educators who were in attendance to observe the action.
The next day, I nervously went to the Embassy Suites for the Maker Challenge. I arrived to a room with five tables filled with SAM labs kits, Makey Makeys, littleBits, a computer and tons and tons of craft supplies! David and I picked our table and waited for instructions. It turned out that our challenge was to "hack a traditional classroom procedure" using only what was on our table and we only had two hours to build a prototype! The whole event would be live streamed through Periscope and there were lots of educators who were in attendance to observe the action.
It didn't take long for the attendees to start milling around the five two-person teams and join in with suggestions. David and I brainstormed a list of several possible things we might create. I was determined that there be a kid-creation component to the project. We ended up with a student-made name tag that would include a button for checking in and out of class. There would be a second button that the student would push in the event of an emergency. This button would send an email to the teacher and/or a parent. We decided to use the new SAM labs for our name tags.
We were so fortunate that Sherry Gick and Cindy Kohl joined our table to help our with the design and build of our prototype.
We were so fortunate that Sherry Gick and Cindy Kohl joined our table to help our with the design and build of our prototype.
We barely had time to complete our project when the two hour time limit was up. Each team then shared their designs with the entire group PLUS all those who were watching on Periscope. There were some VERY creative ideas, including: a way to take a picture of a completed maker project before it was taken apart AND celebrate its completion with pipe cleaner "fireworks;" a check-in system that would send a message if a student was late returning from the bathroom; and a way to indicate when a student needed help with a computer problem with red, yellow or green lights.
Ours was the only project that had a student maker component to it. We had two different design possibilities, but the choices were endless for how a child might decorate their check-in box.
Now it was up to the voters. Educators were given 24 hours to cast their vote for favorite Maker Challenge design.
Ours was the only project that had a student maker component to it. We had two different design possibilities, but the choices were endless for how a child might decorate their check-in box.
Now it was up to the voters. Educators were given 24 hours to cast their vote for favorite Maker Challenge design.
As luck would have it, David and I came in the winners! Take a look at the percentage of votes we received:
After the Maker Challenge was over, it was generally agreed that it was one of the best events at ISTE2016. I'm so fortunate that I was a part of it! It was SO much fun!! There is more information in Colleen Grave's post linked here.