I started my journey through the MET Program in September 2021, and it has been an absolute rollercoaster. From tight deadlines to group projects creating full-blown web resources, I really had an incredible experience. It was only fitting then that in my final term, ETEC 565S created a perfect capstone of my MET journey. I wanted to use this space to create some small reflections across the many experiences I had in this course to show how it has changed me as an educator.

My Maker Family

It isn’t often that you meet a large group of people who come from somewhat similar experiences. We were able to form bonds online through our time doing the CLTs but we really were given an opportunity to form great bonds once the in-person aspect of Summer Institute started. We all went from being shy students (feeling like it was the first day of school all over again), to celebrating our accomplishments after class on the final day of our in-person sessions. Throughout talking with people throughout the week, they were able to provide me an experience to learn through their own past and personal journey. I was provided so many great pieces of advice as a newer educator and was even able to share my own experience with them. This collective pool of knowledge was so beneficial and also helped me create new connections to what we had covered in the CLTs.

EDIDA & My Practice

The EDIDA Framework itself was new to me, but the ideas behind each aspect of it were not. However, learning more about this framework really helped me connect equity, diversity, inclusion frameworks, decolonization, and anti-racism to way more aspects of my curriculum. Being given the opportunity to do a deep dive into this framework and be shown just how many ways it connects to education helped me grow as an educator, even just in a single week. Specifically, having to distinctly align the framework throughout my lesson and unit plan helped me see the connections to content which I had taught before in ways I had not considered. Most importantly, the biggest lesson I gained from using the EDIDA Framework and analyzing it was just how important it is to foster a classroom community of inclusion. It was always something of value to me, as my educational philosophy has a focus on ensuring my students become good people first and then the learning will naturally come second. The EDIDA Framework gives me more tools and perspectives to ensure my students are accepting of all and are given the opportunity to make the world a better place for future generations.

The Maker Mentality

Prior to starting, I really didn’t think much of maker spaces. I was interested in them, but just found it difficult to connect to. It also did not help that we had a “maker cart” at our school which was using an old rolling tv cart, but it was really never used and was eventually dismantled. Learning about the maker mentality and allowing myself to be open to new experiences finally let me think like a maker, and this began with the very first CLT. As soon as I took time to reflect on who I am as an educator, it became crystal clear that I have been using my maker attributes since I was a kid. My thoughts on makerspaces and how they fit in with the curriculum became so clear after even just the first day of in-person learning. I went from not seeing myself interact with makerspaces in my educational setting, to trying to actively find ways to tie in the maker mentality into my curriculum. Specifically, it has inspired me to base my S.T.E.M. program around the maker mentality and create a new (and better) maker cart to bring around with me during these blocks. This Maker Mentality also helped me in this respect to stop thinking about S.T.E.M. only through the lens of technology. This course has given me so many resources and ideas to provide no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech options to my students and has even shown me the importance of providing these different options for them.

CLT Reflection

I took a short look back at each CLT is see if my view has changed and reflect on my thoughts now being at the end of the course.

  • CLT #1 – I think my overview on Makerspaces in this assignment was fairly well done. I think I was able to hit many of the points that I later delved deeper to in the course. I found it interested to re-read through how tie in to constructivism. After completing the course, and especially the in-person week, it is so evident how well constructivism ties in to the maker mentality. I think because of my own view and value I hold in constructivism, it really makes sense why I had a great time learning about makerspaces.
  • CLT #2 – Throughout the in-person week, there were many instances where this CLT became very relevant. The idea that cultural diversity and inclusiveness can be missing in many makerspaces is something that we must all pay more attention to. When looking at our own classroom setting, it was set up in a very welcoming manner and the barriers to entry in the environment felt very low. Although there were many tools and technologies that I did not feel comfortable with, there were ample opportunities that allowed for me to learn. Creating this welcoming environment is a must in makerspace settings.
  • CLT #3 – Inclusiveness for those with disabilities is a topic that I thought was also well addressed during our in-person experience. Again, with how our own makerspace classroom was set up, I felt like it was very inclusive and provided space and resources for those with disabilities. However, there could always be even more added to further make the experience better, but that would need to occur at a university level. As an example, only some stations were equipped with screens for presentations which is a great tool for those with accessibility needs.
  • CLT #6 – VR, AR, and AI were discussed during our in-person experience, and also was a topic of discussion which I had with a few peers. The impact that AI can have to lessen the barrier to entry in makerspace settings and across many fields in general was evident during the ChatGPT presentation. It was amazing that we could code just by giving ChatGPT a few simple instructions!
  • CLT #5 – I was able to make connections throughout the week to this CLT. There are many instances where people do not feel welcome in makerspaces, and even just in spaces throughout everyday life. During our field trip to the Maker Lab, although it was an open space without “technical” barriers, it still felt like there were barriers to entry. There were many tools that are available to use, but different genders could feel uncomfortable in certain areas of the lab. I feel like the Love Has No Labels video really put this entire CLT into perspective. The message that no matter our race, identity, or gender, we all have skin and bones was such a powerful message. We need to treat each other with love and respect, no matter what.

A Final Thought

I cannot think of a better course to end my journey through the MET Program than this one. This really helped me put all that I have learned throughout my time in the MET Program into perspective, and I was given the opportunity to put it into action. It really has changed me as an educator, and I feel way more prepared to provide my students with immersive and inclusive experiences to make them the best they can be.