LLI Southwest

Maker Education inspires deeper learning through hands-on creative experiences. Students learn to think with their hands to produce more meaningful outcomes. Maker spaces are delineated spaces that invite curiosity, inspire wonder, encourage play, and honor uniqueness. Also, these spaces promote productive failure in learning. They are are places to explore authentic problems and to develop unique solutions. High tech and low tech tools are used to accomplish learning goals.


At GSES, we have grown our SPARQ Innovation Space from one new idea to a flourishing core program at our PK-8 school. In this workshop, participants will complete a rapid design cycle to explore and define a unique makerspace that fits the needs of their school.
GSES staff will share stories of successes and failures in their own SPARQ Innovation Space over the last three years. Participants will be led through a step by step design thinking process to identify their needs and desires for such a place in their schools. Each participant will leave with a specific goal in hand for makerspace implementation suitable for their school. They literally will walk out the door with a hand built prototype of their plan!