While the world of making is a complex, multifaceted activity, technology has gradually lowered barriers and opened the door to all kinds of new ideas and projects. The democratization of design software and the use of the internet have made it possible for people to create prototypes, collaborate with others, and improve their creations in a very short amount of time. In the following sections, we’ll explore some of these trends and how they can improve education.

Formal K-12 education systems are based on standards for knowledge and ability. Maker projects, by contrast, are open-ended, playful, and interactive. They enable students to use their newly acquired skills and knowledge to create useful things that have real-world applications. Furthermore, the process of making encourages student questions and rich learning experiences that are hard to capture on a test. Finally, these making projects provide essential preparation for real-world experiences. If you’d like to learn more about integrating making into your education, read on!