“What did you make today in school?” Ask students this, and they may pause. This is a different question than, “What did you do today?”
How many students see school as a place to express themselves as makers and creators? While there is growing interest in putting makerspaces in schools, many groups—including girls and students of color—are underrepresented in these learning environments.
It’s time that we broaden access to creating and making with technology. First, let’s define equity, inclusion, and diversity in education. A few weeks ago, Emmanuel Schanzer of the nonprofit Bootstrap spoke at the Infosys Crossroads Conference. His definitions really ring true for what I have seen in both formal and informal learning spaces:
- Equity describes who has the keys to the room.
- Inclusion describes who is welcome in the room.
- Diversity describes who is in the room.
We must…