This ethnographic case study investigated teachers' perceptions of their role in an elementary school makerspace, specifically how the teachers define, understand, and act out their role while supporting student learning in a school makerspace learning environment. Utilizing the Tinkering Studio's emerging theory on learning-through-tinkering…

The Impact of Facilitating Art Experiences for Students with Language-Based Learning Disabilities Through the Use of Universal Design for Learning Within a Makerspace will address the topics of utilizing Universal Design of Learning (UDL), and Project-Based Learning (PBL) to deliver an arts-based STEAM curriculum within a Makerspace, in order to…

In this dissertation I explore the fugitive technology practices of Black high-schoolers in a tech-rich after-school makerspace. To do so, I invoke ontologies from two cyborgs to make sense of these Black teens' practices. First, James and Costa Vargas (2012) offer the Black Cyborg-- the rebel intellectual rejecting victimization through…

Despite growing interest in the educational benefits of integrating making into formal educational contexts, few studies have examined professional development (PD) models for assisting K-12 teachers in doing so. Through the design and implementation of a unique PD experience, this qualitative case study examined the perspectives of eight teachers…

Purpose: In reflective writing, students are encouraged to examine their own setbacks and progress. With a shortage of guidance in how to provide feedback to students on this type of writing, teachers are often left to figure it out on the job. The central hypothesis in this paper is that the lens of reflective practice can help focus teacher…

Purpose: Building on the growing interest in school-based "making" and "makerspaces," this paper aims to map the emergence of a literacy-oriented makerspace in a non-selective urban public high school. It examines how competing conceptions of literacy came to be negotiated as students and teachers shaped this new space for…

This study is rigorous of peer-reviewed literature on the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) tools in secondary schools. It analyzed the impact of ICT integration on the teaching and learning process based on 51 sampled studies. The findings are thematically presented under the benefits of improving teaching and learning…

In twenty-first-century classrooms, teachers are increasingly seeking resources and finding connection within the virtual space. Within a mass of online choice, this work tests theories related to the choices of individuals on social media and examines individuals' agency as they curate resources. Identifying driving forces across individuals'…

The increasing cost of textbooks has created a demand for no cost/low cost learning resources for students. The University System of Georgia, through their Affordable Learning Grants has supported the development of no cost/low cost course transformation activities. Faculty at Clayton State University (CSU) have been engaged in the development of…

The maker movement has sparked interest from stakeholders in K12 educational institutions based on its emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) content areas. However, the interest has not yet culminated in clearly defined best practices for K12 student or teacher learning. This systematic review of literature aims to analyze…

There has been increased interest in utilizing making activities in classroom-based educational environments and research suggests these activities may promote desirable student dispositions such as increased confidence and agency. To realize these benefits, teachers must experience maker-centered learning in order to design and integrate these…

The CLAVIER (Connected Learning And Virtual Intercultural Exchange Research) network grew rhizomatically as a result of open practice (Blyth, 2019), which is central to the CLAVIER approach. Informed by the field of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), the network has provided a safe space to experiment with the development and implementation of…

This article examines a number of conceptualizations of interactions between people and physical space, and relates them to university settings to make a link with findings on institutional effectiveness. It argues that the idea of the common-pool resource, where certain physical or social conditions are exploited collectively, is a helpful way of…

Making and makerspaces are currently an exciting topic in education. The constructionist nature of learning through making, however, creates an inherent tension for teachers -- one where the need to meet specific standards must be balanced with the open-ended, creative problem-solving that making supports. Unlike the traditional teacher-centered…

Makerspace are collaborative work spaces inside a school, library, or separate facility for making, learning, exploring, and sharing. They provide opportunities for children to practice critical thinking and creative expression.