Why Making Matters

I love having our space that kids can come in and just make stuff. I help them, sometimes guide them, answer questions but most of all I watch their interactions and get out of the way. So..Making Matters. My Big 5.

• Creativity
• Resourcefulness
• Fun
• Responsibility
• Empathy

Making matters simply because we learn by doing. We can buy the expensive Lego sets  (very cool) or we can simply get recyclable things and get some glue and tape. I love seeing the social experiences kids engage in. I learned a lot about this experiential hands on making from a top educator and good friend of mine Mr. Scott whom I worked with many years ago in Central Java. He was doing this stuff everyday in the classroom before ‘Maker’ was back in vogue.  I learned so much.

So the basic principles of just making  something exist. The human part of making is natural much like creating is natural. What makes the ‘space’ so special is that it lies outside the boundaries of the classroom. Many schools such as ours have iTime where learners explore their own ideas and passions. The space can also be an extension of this. Its great to see kids be engaged in things they are genuinely interested in and there lies the secret recipe which makes me love my job so much.