CINCINNATI – As the media specialist at Sands Montessori in Mt. Washington, Robyn Appino’s back-to-school shopping list included some unusual items this year: green screen, digital photo printer, sewing machine, and an electronic die cutter, all of which are available for teachers and students to use at Sands’ new mini makerspace.
“It’s project-based, 21st-century learning,” Appino said.
Across the country, makerspaces — public areas that support do-it-yourself creativity and invention — are fast becoming popular features in public libraries, but they’re less common in public schools, especially at the elementary level. Sands’ makerspace is one of only two in the Cincinnati Public School district. Hays-Porter Elementary School in the West End also has a makerspace as part of its Innovation Lab.
Thanks to a $1,500 grant from Sands’ parent organization, Appino purchased the equipment…
