The Learning in Digital Visual Cultures class prepared a Maker Day workshop. My group, as I’ve talked about previously used recycled materials to create moving and lit hats and headbands. (Previous Blog post)
Three activities were set up in one room, making moving vehicles, light up pens or moving head pieces. We used four tables and set up worksheets describing different processes including: how to make a circuit and how to trouble shoot circuit problems. The tables also had scissors and duct tape for easy accessibility. A materials station was set up in the front of the classroom with cardboard, plastics, paper, and various other reclaimed decorative materials as well as motors, wire, LED lights, batteries, and switch clips. Separately, we set up a hot glue station and a cardboard cutting station that we, the workshop instructors and parents could use.
As the workshop started kids began to create different hat forms, masks and head bands. As the workshop went on, I noticed a lot of kids using materials and ideas from other group projects within their hat making. I thought that was really cool to see, and helped tie all of our workshops together. Parents were excitingly helping their kids build complex head pieces.
The harder process was keeping the tables clear and accessible for students after about 2 hours or so. Because of the workshop atmosphere, our group didn’t predict cleaning up through out the workshop. I think looking towards next time, groups should dedicate time to help clean up, and possibly make signs to encourage kids and parents to clean up after working.
I focused on helping a lot of kids cut shapes out of cardboard and hot glue. Over all, many of the kids were great at self directing and asking for help. There was one girl who stayed at the table for over an hour, possibly and hour and a half. She had a very clear vision of her hat and we worked together to come up with solutions for designing it.
I found this workshop to be incredibly rewarding!
wbta.ART 