Episode 6: Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn

More about Stefania
 

Stefania Druga is the creator of Cognimates, platform for AI education for families and a Ph.D candidate at the University of Washington. Her research on AI education started during her master in Personal Robots Group at MIT Media Lab. Currently, she is also a Weizenbaum research fellow in the Critical AI Lab and an assistant professor at NYU ITP and RISD, teaching graduate students how to hack smart toys for AI education. She co-founded Hackidemia, a global community for maker education present in 40 countries, Afrimakers, initiative for learning by solving global challenges in 10 African countries and MakerCamp , global camps for learning how to build and run maker spaces. During her research in the past two years, she has observed in longitudinal studies how 450 children from 7 countries are growing up with AI and how they can acquire AI literacy concepts through creative learning activities with the open source AI coding platform she has created.

We are pleased to share a recent webinar led by Daniel Schermele with several FabLearn Fellows in a conversation about assessment strategies for maker courses. 

The conversation included:

• Intent of assessment / why do we teach specific content
• Types of assessments
• Backwards planning vs. self-determined education
• Why do we assess? Accountability or just part of an antiquated educational system?
• What should we be assessing? Standards vs. skills. Knowledge vs. Information
• How do we assess?
• Using a product as assessment (when the process is really what’s important)
• Testing
• Individual vs. team

Tony shared the goals of the program and current opportunities for young people in their Invention contests and programs. Justin Brown, one of the FabLearn Fellows, discussed how the InventTeams program works in his high school in Hawaii. It was an interesting conversation, as we discussed the similarities between “maker” and invention programs in schools, how to gain support from students, parents, teachers, and administration, fundraising, and encouraging students to believe that they can invent things.

In this last installment, we’ll discuss What it means to prepare students for the real world, how learning is not necessarily the result of having been taught and when it’s good to give instructions.

Gary Stager is one of the world’s leading experts on and advocates for computer programming, robotics and learning-by-doing in classrooms. He worked closely with Seymour Papert on a number of projects. He led professional development in the world’s first laptop schools and played a major role in the early days of online education. He is the founder of the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute for educators. He and our very own Sylvia Martinez are the authors of Invent to Learn.

In this second installment of three, you’ll join Stager in a discussion with the FabLearn Fellow about the difference between instructionism and constructionism, the importance of instilling students’ pride in their work, and whether tis nobler to document or not to document.

Gary Stager is one of the world’s leading experts on and advocates for computer programming, robotics and learning-by-doing in classrooms. He worked closely with Seymour Papert on a number of projects. He led professional development in the world’s first laptop schools and played a major role in the early days of online education. He is the founder of the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute for educators. He and our very own Sylvia Martinez are the authors of Invent to Learn.

In this first of three installments, you’ll hear more about Gary Stager’s background in working and promoting maker education, reflections on how to create "nutritional" maker projects and the benefits and drawbacks of working with ready-to-make kits.

Gary Stager is one of the world’s leading experts on and advocates for computer programming, robotics and learning-by-doing in classrooms. He worked closely with Seymour Papert on a number of projects. He led professional development in the world’s first laptop schools and played a major role in the early days of online education. He is the founder of the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute for educators. He and our very own Sylvia Martinez are the authors of Invent to Learn.

EPISODE 6: LEARN 2 TEACH, TEACH 2 LEARN
Hosts: Sam Phillips, Tracy Rudzitis, Betty Elias, Tyla Smart, Naeem Wilson

Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn is a 16-year-old STEAM maker education program that runs from April - August in Boston. L2TT2l engages youth of color in creative possibilities of technology & engineering and hires 36 teenage youth teachers every year who represent Boston. The program is organized by Susan Klimczak (2014 FabLearn Fellow)

Resources from this episode:

• Naeem Wilson Portfolio and Website
https://nemodude.com/

• South End Technology Center
http://www.tech-center-enlightentcity.tv/

• Tracy Rudzitis Twitter
https://twitter.com/wagongrrl

• seyMour’s puBlic enTities, eDith’s maKe-ing conVersation & DeSign ReViews by Susan Klimczak
http://fellows.fablearn.org/seymours-public-entities-ediths-make-ing-conversation-design-reviews/

• Blynk
http://www.blynk.cc/

• Theme music: Love to the World by Tall Black Guy
https://tallblackguy.bandcamp.com/album/mini-therapy-chops