Research abstract

Middle School Maker Journey: Shop Class Rebooted. . . Digitally

Bring back shop class to the school and classroom. Read about how a school in Northfield New Jersey is not only bring back this practice to the academic environment, but also with a 21st century twist. By Kevin Jarrett

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In this article you will be educated about a new twist to an old class….Shop class. The idea is to make learning fun using modern technology. Using technology to help student help the community, they will look at an individual or they will look at a community as a whole. This process will involve empathy as a foundation of design thinking.
Student will have the opportunity to use online tools as well as being hands on. They will use various materials to build problem solving devices for the community. They will learn problem solving skills to apply to everyday life. This program will allow them to challenge their imagination and be as creative as their brains will allow. They will learn to turn failure into success by building their confidence.

Key takeaways

  1. Most STEM/STEAM programs lack context.
  2. If the creation or solution doesn’t solve a problem for someone, it is of little good.
  3. A focus on design thinking will give students the tools, collaboration skills, and creative confidence to solve problems that meet others’ needs.

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Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.