Week 1: Maker culture in education¶
Assignment checklist¶
The official Week 1 assignment lists three main assignments and three local makerspace tasks. The About page includes several required components.
1. Get acquainted with the Learning Diary and complete About Me — in progress¶
- Learning Diary access is working, and I am using the CMS to document my learning.
- About Me includes my background, primary-school teaching context, digital fabrication experience, learning aims and an initial Field Activity proposal.
- Personal photograph: still to add.
- Short introduction video: still to record and link.
2. Create and post an introduction video under three minutes — pending¶
The video needs to show my classroom or makerspace and location, explain what I hope to learn in Fab Learning Academy, and show something I made to explain my connection with the Maker Movement. I will post the video link here and on my About page when it is ready.
3. Introduce myself in the WhatsApp group — completed¶
I have completed my WhatsApp introduction.
Local Fab Lab / makerspace tasks¶
1. Set up the Learning Diary with instructor support¶
My diary is accessible and being updated. I have met my instructor, Nick.
2. Explore digital fabrication processes — partly completed¶
I have extensive practical experience using 3D printing and laser cutting. I have not yet observed a vinyl cutter in operation, so this remains a next step.
3. Discuss course expectations, safety and makerspace access — follow-up needed¶
I have met Nick and am familiar with safe operation of the fabrication tools I use. I still need to confirm and document the course-specific discussion of expectations, makerspace availability and local rules.
My makerspace tour¶
I have added a full-length tour of my teaching makerspace at Dingwen Academy Hangzhou.
- Watch in high quality on YouTube — uploaded from the original MOV recording; available by link.
- Watch the compressed web version — full duration, 4:49; compressed from the original to fit the CMS limit.
This tour documents my space. The separate introduction video under three minutes remains pending.
Teaching context and next steps¶
I teach Design and Technology to Grades 1–6 at Dingwen Academy Hangzhou. My teaching combines project-based STEAM learning, digital design and hands-on making. Fab Academy gave me further practical fabrication experience; in Fab Learning Academy, my aim is to connect these tools with purposeful learning activities for primary students.
An initial Field Activity proposal is a collaborative design-and-build challenge, such as a marble maze or moving model. The age group, learning goals and activity will be refined with my instructor.
Next steps are to add my personal photo, record and publish the short introduction video, observe vinyl cutting, and document the course expectations and safety discussion. Specific reflections and evidence will be added as these activities are completed.
Documented with AI assistance from my CV and progress updates. Pending activities are identified explicitly.