edcampNYC and MakerSpaces

I attended my first Edcamp yesterday - edcampNYC.  I was able to interact and learn with educators from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware.  We came with elementary, middle, and high school backgrounds in public, private, and charter schools.

I enjoyed learning from Kelly O'Shea who shared her classroom experience that revolves around student discourse and the $2 whiteboard.  I can't wait to get to Home Depot to make some for myself.

Had a great time with BreakoutEDU, both the physical puzzles and digital puzzles.  There are so many ways to use these kits.

But I am most inspired by the ideas that were shared by educators during our session on Maker Mindsets.  My big takeaway from this session was the idea that a MakerSpace can be anywhere.  It is a place to let ideas grow.  Put an index card on a table with MakerSpace written in bold letters, and you are ready to go.  MakerSpaces are not defined by equipment or materials.  Participants think about themselves as a Problem Finder, not just a Problem Solver.  

After this great day of idea-sharing and educator-led learning, we then got to visit the Skill Mill NYC, a new MakerSpace on the Upper West Side.  What a great space for bringing ideas to life.  I can't wait to sign up for a class (or two, or three).  Feeling inspired this weekend!