InTASC Standard:  
Standard #3: Learning Environments 
"The teacher works with others to create
environments that support individual and
collaborative learning, and that encourage
positive social interaction, active engagement
in learning, and self-motivation." (InTASC,2013)

Brief Description of Evidence:
In the fall semester of 2021, in my Education with Technology course, I constructed a maker space. The purpose of creating this artifact was to open my mind set about engineering and thinking of items I would like to incorporate in my future classroom. By educating students on the topic STEM and STEAM, it is more likely that there will be a greater chance of growth mindsets in the classroom. Along with this, the representation comes with the added benefit of empowering children with the ability to create and think critically on their own. The maker spacer gives details of materials, costs, resources, and instruction on how each activity can be used in the classroom.

Analysis of What I Learned:
I consulted with several teachers from local schools to discuss the importance of engaging students in STEM and STEAM early on in their school career.  The teachers all shared with great detail the importance of teaching them these foundational skills such as being able to create terrariums and understanding why they work the way they do. I  also grew my knowledge about maker spaces through online research. Through my online research, I found that students who are actively using maker spaces are more resilient and know their self-worth (S, 2019).
 
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard:
My maker space encourages understanding and supportive learning environments that the students can create by building and manipulating different variables. They can develop a wide range of 21st-century skills using the hands-on approach to learning. This learning style implemented in my makerspace corresponds with Montessori’s four planes of development. Montessori states, “children learn best in an environment that has been prepared to enable them to do things for themselves.” Along with this, the students are motivating themselves to figure out what the connections are within the project they are making. They can try again and make great strides even during failure. They are able to gain active engagement in learning by wanting to figure out the issue with experiments. 


Citations:

Council of Chief State School Officers. (2013, April). Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards and Learning Progressions for Teachers 1.0: A Resource for Ongoing Teacher Development. Washington, DC: Author.
 

S. (2019, February 5). 10 Makerspace Starter Activities. STEM MINDS. https://www.stemminds.com/10-makerspace-starter-activities/

 

Pedagogy Profile: the Montessori Method. (2016, October 6). Supply Desk. https://www.supplydesk.co.uk/resource/pedagogy-profile-montessori-method/#:%7E:text=The%20Montessori%20method%20suggests%20that,explore%20materials%20of%20their%20choice