Track: School STEM Best Practices
This in-depth discussion holds opportunities for attendees to connect with facilitators and fundraisers for Maker Spaces of all sizes. A Maker Space is sometimes also referred to as a hackerspace. Hackserpaces fablabs are creative DIY (Do-It-Yourself) spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. They often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more. Topics of discussion include best practices, approaches and common challenges.
Presenters
- Terry Ann Lawler, Librarian III, Manager of Youth Services, MACH1 Maker Space, Burton Barr Central Library
- Dr. Andi Fourlis, Chief Learning Officer, CREATE Space, Arizona Science Center
- Sandy Rizzo, Librarian III, Coordinator of Mesa ThinkSpot, Mesa Public Library
- Laura Royal, Coordinator of Mesa ThinkSpot, Mesa Public Library
- Cori Araza, Media IT Specialist/GenYES Instructor, Paradise Valley High School
- Ceri Jones, Co-Founder – Chief Inspiration Officer, The Collaboratory – Creative School
- Eric Ose, Robot Ambassador, Southwest Maker Fest Vice Chair, HeatSyncLabs Secretary
- Christine Diaz, Media Assistant, Camille Casteel High School
- Robin Baskin McNulty, Co-Founder/Chair, Southwest Maker Fest
- Joel Smalley, Project Coordinator, Hayden Library Makerspace, Arizona State University*
- R. Bruce Jones, Secondary Science Specialist, Mesa Public Schools
- Amanda Tucker, Events Coordinator, Tech Shop Chandler
- Jason Black, Senior Account Manager, Tech Shop Chandler
Terry Ann Lawler has been Youth Services Librarian for more than 12 years. She has worked with youth of all ages conducting science and maker programming. In 2013 Terry transferred to the Burton Barr Central Library and created the MACH1 Makerspace, which she describes as 5,000 square feet of awesome. Terry loves tinkering with teens, teaching coding to toddlers and planning trips to mars with 3rd graders. She’s pretty sure her interns are going to invent Skynet. She is totally ok with that.
Dr. Andi Fourlis is the Chief Learning Officer at Arizona Science Center. She is a career educator specializing in educational leadership, curriculum and instructional design, school improvement and professional learning systems. With over 25 years of experience, Andi has taught middle school students and served as a teacher leader, director, executive director and assistant superintendent of a large suburban school district in Arizona.
Andi holds a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, a Master’s Degree in reading, and a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education and English as a Second Language.