I Have No Idea What I'm Doing

Confession: Sometimes my enthusiasm overtakes my expertise.  On a small scale, this usually isn't a big deal and can be worked around.  However, I've taken on two pretty big, semi-related projects recently.  I'm ridiculously excited about both.  And I'm almost completely making them both up as I go along.

Project #1

Earlier this year the high school band got to do a few STEAM projects that prompted my principal to encourage me to propose a STEAM class for next year.  Since its approval, I've been finding any and everything I can find on STEAM, the maker movement, and maker spaces.  Though this has been an awful lot like drinking from a fire hose, what I've discovered so far is that there are not a lot of classes being offered along those lines.  Clubs, enrichment programs, local organizations, but not really long term classes.

I do have a plan for how I want to approach the class, so right now my biggest sticking point is materials and setting up a makerspace.  From the materials front, I don't currently know how many kids are signed up for the class, 10 or 30 could make a difference.  Also, because I don't know which way their interests will take them over the course of their making, I don't want to spend money on too much of the wrong thing and not have funds to supply them with what they really want/need.  My budget is pretty small and while I plan on writing grants, I haven't decided what I want to target them towards yet.

The makerspace issue ties into the second project I've volunteered myself for.

Project #2

Through the magic of Twitter and various EdCamps, I have seem some spectacular things done with media centers, classrooms, and makerspaces lately.  Creating more comfortable and collaborative learning spaces can have a big impact on everything from classroom management to morale and school culture.

Last week we had our first Design Team meeting.  About ten students and one other teacher attended.  We have the makings of a plan to redo how we use the space in our library, which includes setting up a makerspace.  Having it in a place that students could easily access, including when I'm teaching at our other building was really important to me.  Students broke themselves up into smaller teams to start researching things like furniture options, color schemes, and even setting up a coffee shop. Have I mentioned yet that there is a start up budget of $0 for this project as of now?  And that between two teachers and 10 students in grades 8-12, none of us is a designer or architect?

Which all comes back to: I have no idea what I'm doing. (though after writing it all out, I feel like I maybe have a slightly better handle on things than I thought)  However, if I've learned anything as I've become more active on Twitter and other venues, discomfort is a good thing and pushes us to be better learners and educators.  And if I'm going to expect my students in STEAM to step outside their comfort zone, I have to also.  So I'll continue blogging about it throughout the summer and next school year.  If you, dear reader, have suggestions, ideas, input, or wads of money you'd like to throw our way, please share!