Why Make? MAK’s 2018 Annual Fund 為什麼我們要動手做？MAK2018年度募款
This month I attended a conference in Hong Kong that aligned well with our Annual Fund goal of developing a Creation Lab – a ‘maker space’ that will allow students to put their learning into action. Part of the conference was a tour of international schools in Hong Kong who are current leaders in connecting learning with doing, all with some form of maker space.
這個月我到香港參加了一場會議，這場會議非常貼合我們今年的年度募款目標，也就是發展一間創作實驗室，又稱為「創客空間」，它能讓我們的學生將所學化為行動。這場會議的部分行程是到香港的幾間國際學校參觀，這些學校都是現在正將學習與實作結合在一起的領頭羊，也完全符合創客空間的形式。
If at this point you’re wondering what a maker space is, watch this! And then imagine the learning potential if some of the projects in the video were connected with classroom learning at MAK.
如果現在您想知道什麼是創客空間，請看這裡！請想像一下如果這影片中的某些計畫與MAK的課室相連結，會產生什麼具潛力性的學習。
On my Hong Kong tour I was able to spend a good deal of time with students, from grade 3 to grade 11, who were working on projects designed to challenge their book knowledge through real application. One third grader was testing out a water compass he was learning about in social studies and Mandarin class. He and I discussed how it worked and why it might be useful. At another school I sat with a 10th grader who was directly applying concepts from geometry to construct an octagonal, curved roof that would precisely fit on an octagonal room of a pagoda she had designed and cut using a laser cutter. She had clearly moved past the question of Is geometry useful? to How can I apply what I’ve learned in geometry to the world? It was brilliant.
在我這趟的香港之行中，我可以花很多時間與三到十一年級的學生在一起。他們正進行他們所設計的計畫，這是透過實際應用來挑戰他們從課本上所學到的知識。一位三年級生正在測試一個水指南針，這是他從社會課與中文課中所學到的內容。他和我討論這個水指南針是怎麼運作的，以及它為什麼有用處。在另一間學校，我和一位十年級生坐在一起，她則是直接將她在幾何課中學到的概念應用於建構一個八角形且彎曲的屋頂，讓這個屋頂可以精準地貼合她設計並以雷射刀切割的寶塔中的一間八角形的房間。
This is the kind of thing I would love to see more of with our students at MAK, and our Annual Fund this year can help get us there through the development of a Creation Lab and a Modern Media classroom.
這樣的事是我樂意看到能多多發生在MAK的學生身上的事。今年的年度捐款可以讓我們藉由創作實驗室與現代化媒體教室，看到這些事情得以實現。
Effectively developing these areas requires some thinking, some building, and some funding (which is where our MAK community comes in!). As our annual fund is just getting underway, I’d like to let you in on some of the thinking behind our goals, driven by questions developed by an expert in maker-based learning.
有效率的發展這些區塊需要一些思考、一些建構和一些資金（這時候就是與MAK社群有關的時候了）。由於我們正在籌措今年的年度募款，我希望能讓您知道一些在這個目標背後的想法。
Why do we think this is a good use of time and money? 為什麼我們認為這樣做是善用時間與金錢的舉動？
As I’ve argued here, risk-taking, collaboration, and creation are foundational to real learning. These skills are increasingly relevant in the world today. Creativity is paramount. Moreover, when students and parents alike can see the purpose and value of what they are learning through application, it makes the learning ‘stick.’ Finally, seeing and being involved in application leads to more questions – and questions are foundational to lifelong learning.
就如同我先前在這裡說明過冒險、協同合作與創作都是實際學習的基礎。這些技能在現今的社會中都呈現正比性的增加趨勢，而創造力則是最重要的。更重要的是，當學生與家長一樣，可以透過實際應用看見他們所正在學習的目的與價值時，這會使得學習更加「牢固」。最後，看見與參與在應用中能誘發更多的問題，而這些被誘發出來的問題都是終身學習的基石。
What will happen in the space? 在創客空間中會發生什麼？
This summer we plan to move our current weight room to a new structure, funded by Morrison, adjacent to the outdoor basketball courts. After this, our plan is to use our Annual Fund to (a) develop the current weight room into a full-fledged Creation Lab by filling it with tools and (b) spruce up our current computer lab to a Modern Media classroom, focusing exclusively on media production. The Modern Media classroom will be a home for tech-focused exploratories and electives like Media, Shark Show, Photoshop 101, Graphic Design, and any classroom projects that require media (like CSPAN in grade 8 English). The Creation Lab will focus on design and construction courses like Robotics, Programming, and 3-D Printing, along with other school projects that require sophisticated construction (such as the Rube Goldberg project in biology).
今年夏天，我們計劃將我們現有的健身房挪到一座由馬禮遜出資，鄰近戶外籃球場的新建築物中。之後，我們打算要使用我們年度捐款，將現有的健身房空間來發展成為一座完全成熟的創作實驗室，裡面有著許多各式各樣的工具；以及，將現有的電腦實驗室升級為現代化媒體教室，只專注於媒體製作上。現代化媒體教室將會成為聚焦於科技領域的探索課程和選修課程的基地，像是媒體、Shark Show、Photoshop 101、圖片設計以及任何需要以媒體進行的課室計畫（例如八年級的CSPAN課程）。創作實驗室將會專注在設計與結構課程，舉凡機器人、程式設計、3D列印，和其他需要複雜結構的學校計畫（像是生物學界的魯布戈登堡[1]一樣）。
Why do we need a Maker Space? Why not just use classrooms? 為什麼我們需要創客空間？難道不能用一般的教室就好嗎？
Having a centralized space for high-tech tools allows access for more students, and it also allows for increased sophistication in projects. In a maker space, students can use a variety of tools to create a project, from wood to 3-D printed objects. Imagine the potential of Rube Goldberg projects with loads more resources. The space is also ideal for our current elective courses in robotics and programming. In elementary, however, maker-type projects might be better suited to take place nearer the classrooms. Discussions for how to best use elementary hallway space for creative projects are currently underway.
我們希望擁有一間能讓更多學生使用高科技工具的創作空間，同時這空間也能進行一些複雜性較高的計畫項目。在創客空間中，學生可以使用許多工具來創作一樣作品，其材質則可以從木質到3D列印。請想像一下具潛力性的魯布戈登堡機械作品可以涵括更多的資源。這樣的空間對於我們目前的選修課，如機器人與程式設計，也是一個相當理想的場地。然而，在小學部，創客類型的計畫則比較適合在離教室較近的地方進行。目前我們正在針對如何將小學部的走廊空間使用於創作性的計畫達到最佳化進行討論。
What’s good in our school that we want to improve? 我們希望改善之處對於學校有什麼益處？
In the last few years our teachers have been taking further steps to connect knowing and doing. Our elementary teachers already pursue a plethora of hands-on activities to reinforce academic concepts. Our middle school exploratory courses now focus on risk-taking, creation, and collaboration. Our middle school and high school has a robust media program with projects like these – which would greatly benefit from a media ‘lab.’ Courses in our new high school elective period push students to explore areas of personal interest. Next year we plan to add a Senior Capstone Course in which senior students spend from one semester to a full year planning, developing, and creating a project, with the help of a mentor, that aligns with their personal passions and interests. Imagine the potential a Creation Lab or Modern Media classroom might offer to an advanced Senior Capstone project. We are ready for the next step!
過去的幾年間，我們的老師已經早一步地將「知道」與「動手做」連結在一起了。小學部的教師已經做了太多動手做的活動來增強學習上的概念。中學部的探索課程現在則聚焦於冒險、創作與協同合作。中學部與高中部有個健全完整的媒體課程，進行著這些計畫，而這些都將會從媒體「實驗室」裡獲得極大的助益。我們新的高中選修課程促使學生們可以探索個人興趣。明年我們打算增加一門「總整課程[2]」，讓高中生可用一個學期或是一整年的時間，透過輔導者的從旁協助，結合個人的熱情與興趣來發展並創作一項作品。請想像一下，創作實驗室或是現代化媒體教室可提供更進階的高中總整課程。我們已經預備好了！
What does success look like? 如果成功了，會是什麼景況？
Ultimately, our goal is culture transformation. First, I hope the space is inspiring and awakes in some kids a genuine passion for learning. Second, I hope the space helps students make connections, prompting mental wheels to turn in geometry or biology or physics or English as students start to wonder How could I make this? or What would happen if I actually tried that? Third, my hope is that the space enables our students to understand the process of creative thinking. Making something worth making is a process that demands ideas and recovery from failure. If our graduates can independently work through failure to come up with creative solutions, we’ve done something right as a school that will allow students have have genuine impact on the world.
我們最終的目標是文化轉換。首先，我希望這個空間可以激發與喚醒某些孩子真正的學習熱情；其次，我希望這空間可以幫助學生多做學科與日常生活的連結，當他們開始想知道「我如何能做到這個」或是「如果我試著這樣做，會有什麼結果」時，能加快在幾何、生物、物理或是英文的思考能力；第三，我希望這個空間可以讓我們的學生了解創造性思考的過程。進行某些值得做的事情是一個需要從失敗中獲得靈感和修正的過程。如果我們的畢業生可以從失敗中找到創造性的解決方法而獨立工作的話，我們則已經做了一些正確的事，因為學校讓學生對這個世界有了真正的影響力。
What are the values and expectations that are driving this? 做這些事情的價值與期望是什麼？
This is right up our alley at MAK. If you’ve been to our MPR, you’ve seen our big banners in the back: Take Risks! Collaborate! Ask Questions! Seek the Truth! Be Responsible! Show Respect! Each of these goals can be fulfilled through the vibrant, curious, and creative culture that can grow out of a maker space.
採取這樣的行動符合MAK的期望。如果你曾經到過我們的MPR，你一定看過掛在後方的六面旗幟—冒險、合作、提問、尋求真理、負責、尊重。活力、好奇心和創作文化可以滿足上述的六個目標，同時也是發展創客空間的根本。
[1] 魯布戈登堡為美國一著名漫畫家，畫風獨特，常將日常生活中簡易的事物以複雜的機械原理呈現處理事務的過程。詳細資料請見這裡。
[2] Capstone Course中譯名為「總整課程」，詳細說明請參考下列網站說明。
評鑑雙月刊 http://epaper.heeact.edu.tw/archive/2014/05/01/6152.aspx