MakerKids is one of the only makerspaces for kids in the world - it's a workshop space where kids get to learn about and do things like 3D printing, electronics, woodworking, robotics, and more. Learn more at http://www.makerkids.ca. Video of speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIYI2cC_oDM

1. Jennifer Turliuk – Co-Executive Director, MakerKids
@jenniferturliuk / jenn@makerkids.ca
How To ReMake the World:
Making With Kids

3. What you
are good at
What you
like to do
Opportunities
Skills and knowledge
Confidence
What the
world
needs

6. • School system invented in Italy
• Ages 2.5-7; multi-aged classrooms
• Self-directed learning and
discovery for long blocks of time
• Collaborative learning
• No grades or tests
• Math, language, music, art, etc.
Source: WSJ

7. Thomas Edison, Steve Wosniak, Erik Erikson, and Alexander Graham Bell
were all supporters of Montessori.
Larry Page (founder of Google): “I think it was part of that training of not
following rules and orders, and being self-motivated, questioning what’s
going on on the world, doing things a little differently”
Sergey Brin (founder of Google) credited his willingness to go
out on his own to Montessori
Will Wright (inventor of the Sims): “Montessori taught me the joy of
discovery – it’s all about learning on your terms, rather than a teacher
explaining stuff to you”
Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon) would get so engrossed in his activities at
Montessori that his teachers would literally have to pick him up from his chair
to get him to go onto the next task.
By age 5, Montessori students had higher performance in reading, math
and executive function (the ability to adapt to changing and more complex
problems, an indicator of future school and life success)
Source: WSJ

8. Barriers to Kids Doing High-Tech Making:
Many options are basic
and step-by-step
Hackerspaces are
mainly for adults
3D printers are
expensive!

9. • One of the only kids’ makerspaces
in the world; located in Toronto
• Ages 3+
• Self-directed learning and
discovery, collaborative learning
• 3D printing, electronics, tools, etc
• Montessori for the 21st century

10. 3D Printing
Electronics
Woodworking
Arduino
Minecraft
Robotics
Inventions
Toy hacking
Rocket launching
Jewellery making
Chariot building
Programming
Sewing
Crafts
Candy/food making
Robot battle

11. Kids Open Shop (PWYC)
Minecraft Drop-in
Summer Camps
Teens Open Shop
Adults Open Shop
After-school programs
Themed Workshops
Birthday Parties
External Events

12. MakerKids' Recipe:
1. Dedicated Space
2. Real Tools
3. Process over Product
• It’s OK to fail
• Experiential learning (learn by doing)
• Choose to celebrate making, not just what they’ve made
4. Interest Driven
5. Kids Teaching Kids
6. Kids Teaching Us
7. Exhibition
8. Community

13. Results:
Featured by:

14. “When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the
way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world.
Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have
a nice family, have fun, save a little money. That's a very
limited life.
Life can be much broader once you discover one simple
fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up
by people that were no smarter than you and you can
change it, you can influence it, you can build your own
things that other people can use.
Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again.”
-Steve Jobs movie

15. Next Steps:

16. Jennifer Turliuk – Co-Executive Director, MakerKids
@jenniferturliuk / jenn@makerkids.ca