Heat up your K-12 teaching skills with UC Makerspace Summer Intensive

Partnering with the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative (GCSC), in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, UC leverages its Ground Floor Makerspace for another state-of-the-art professional development journey for K-12 teachers across the region in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).

As an original member of the MakerUSA Learning Network, GCSC and UC are breaking down barriers, paving the way for educators to dive headfirst into project-based and problem-based learning. According to Ben Jones, director of UC's Makerspace in the 1819 Innovation Hub, "Makerspaces are like educational wonderlands where teachers and students can bring complex concepts to life. 

“It's not just about teaching STEAM subjects; it's about unleashing creativity, experimentation and rapid prototyping."

Jones opens the curtain on this revolutionary program, "We're arming STEAM teachers with the latest tools and technologies, turning their classrooms into innovation labs. This isn't just education; it's a journey into the future of STEAM."

To mold future college-bound STEAM prodigies right from middle and high school. By injecting design prototyping experiences into their curriculum, students will enter university-level STEAM programs with confidence and prowess.

“Here in UC’s Makerspace, we define ‘making’ as including design, challenge-based learning, crafts, tinkering, inventing and performing maintenance and repairs,” notes Jones. “These activities develop initiative, resiliency, problem-solving and collaborative work skills. These are all part of the 21st-century skills that are in demand by employers.”

Enjoy exclusive one-on-one interactions and emerge as the STEAM superheros your students deserve. This free professional program includes equipment training, discussions and group work sessions to redefine your teaching game.

Participants also earn between 40 and 60 professional development contact hours, stipends up to $250 after conquering the program and enjoy free parking and lunches.

Applications open December 18, 2023, and must be received by March 22, 2024. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and final notification of acceptance will occur by April 5, 2024. But act fast because this exclusive experience is limited to a select 20-25 participants. 

Jones shares as part of a commitment to build a thriving STEAM community, "We're not only training the trainers, but this is also the beginning of a movement — a community that fuels itself. Teachers sharing, collaborating and evolving together. It's not just a program; it's the catalyst for a STEAM revolution."

Get ready to be part of something bigger because UC's Makerspace Summer Intensive isn't just an event; it's your launchpad into a STEAM-powered future. 

Apply now and get ready to mold future STEAM superheroes.

Featured image at top: K-12 teachers from the 2023 summer intensive in UC's Groundfloor Makerspace. Photo/Greg Glevicky/UC 1819 Office of Innovation