EAGER: MAKER: Making Prosthetics for Kids - Socially Relevant Making to Catalyze Diversity and Engagement in STEM Learning

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This exploratory research project is studying socially-relevant Making in the context of an on campusuniversity Makerspace. Project studies are developing best practice models of howinformal STEM learning through Making can be leveraged to improve the effectiveness of bothinformal and formal learning approaches, as well as to increase retention and broadenparticipation in STEM education for students and faculty. This is being studied across bothsecondary and post-secondary levels in partnership with a local engineering-focused high school.Project research is grounded in a specific socially-relevant challenge problem: designing andfabricating prosthetic hands for children who need them. Challenge problem activities areconnected directly to real world context and outcomes in partnership with a nonprofitorganization that specializes in facilitating and providing 3D printed recreational prosthetichands free of charge for children with limb differences.Project research is defining novel integrations of informal and formal STEM learning pathways,providing case studies, learning materials, lessons learned, and scalable design templates forlearning ecosystems at other institutions. The focus on design thinking supports learningbenefits from cross-disciplinary interaction, particularly in interdisciplinary peer learning ofSTEM concepts, exposing non-STEM learners to STEM concepts, and disrupting traditionalteacher-student roles. Project outcomes are catalyzing and sustaining diverse learner transitionsto a Maker STEM-based affinity identity by identifying best practice design patterns for learning,focused by the challenge problem, which can be applied more generally to foster synergeticinteractions between formal and informal learning within educational environments.