Maker Educator Certificate Program

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Previously coordinated by the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), the School of Education’s center for STEM Teacher Education Pathways (STEP) together with the School of Extended and International Education (SEIE) will now be taking the lead on the development, maintenance, and coordination of the maker educator certificate program. Working with maker educators throughout the north Bay Area, and with support from Sonoma State University, the School of Extended and International Education and SCOE, the Maker Educator Certificate program offers a series of courses designed for people seeking to lead maker activities in schools, clubs, community centers, libraries, and other organizations. The program focuses on maker centered learning pedagogies and practices where aspiring educators learn from expert maker educators how to integrate maker content within their teaching context and throughout their communities. Courses are offered in a variety of formats: face-to-face, hybrid, and online.

At a Glance

Program Type 

Certificate (non-credit) professional development

Field of Interest

Making, STEM (Education)

Terms offered

Fall and Spring

Length 

Varies depending on course offerings, but potential to finish in one academic year

Delivery Method

Online; hybrid; face-to-face

Units

5 total CEU’s

Cost

Free

Goals and Learning Outcomes

Goals

This certificate program is designed as a series of mini courses for people seeking to lead maker activities in formal or informal educational spaces. The program focuses on maker centered learning pedagogies and practices and seeks to help current practitioners integrate maker activities into their contexts and aims to meet the following goals: 

  • Promote the designs of maker-centered learning experiences across the K-12 curriculum

  • Provide a pathway to integrate concepts of maker-centered learning more effectively into K-12 classrooms

  • Distribute and decentralize professional development opportunities 

  • Foster community through the sharing of knowledge and practice 

  • Develop leaders 

  • Create networking opportunities for maker educators 

Learning Outcomes 

As a result of completing the Maker Educator Certificate Program, participants will:

  • Understand the core philosophies and ideologies that drive maker centered learning 

  • Explore community based maker practices and educative making and tinkering practices.

  • Learn pedagogical practices for empowering learners to explore Making and a Maker mindset in a learning environment

  • Design an action plan for implementing maker centered learning activities in various contexts

  • Begin to consider ways to integrate Making into the formal and informal classroom

  • Begin to align Maker projects with CCSS, NGSS, & ISTE standards

  • Become part of a Maker network and participate in maker community practices

  • Receive mentorship from local Maker educators

 

Courses

Introduction to Making:

Introduction to Making is a four session hybrid course that introduces participants to the philosophy and world of making through interactive activities and Making experiences.

Making for Educators:

Making for educators is a four session face to face course where participants will begin to integrate concepts of making into their own learning contexts and reflect on their and their students participation in these concepts. 

Maker Professional Development:

Maker Professional Development is a fully online course that will provide a space and support for participants to complete their cultivating project for the certificate program: the maker portfolio project.

Contact

Angelica Andrews Buot 

Email: andrewsbuo@sonoma.edu