Academics
Makerspace
-
-
Image
-
How We Learn
Makerspace is where Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics come together! Inspiring Innovation, Collaboration, and Curiosity
At the heart of our approach is a commitment to learning by doing.
Makerspaces are intentionally flexible environments where both students and teachers can explore diverse approaches to learning. The Youth Makerspace Playbook outlines several methodologies suited to these spaces, including inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, design thinking, tinkering, constructivism, and constructionism. Crucially, it emphasizes that you don't need to start from scratch—existing lessons can often be adapted by loosening structure, reducing step-by-step instructions, allowing more time, and giving students the freedom to explore (MakerEd, 2015, p. 49).
Effective makerspaces are grounded in design thinking. This mindset values collaboration across boundaries, action before discussion, empathy, iterative prototyping, and showing rather than telling (Doorley & Witthoft, 2012, p. 51).
The Makerspace program at Pardes is designed to ignite curiosity and empower students to become creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and compassionate contributors to their communities. Rooted in our core values of Kavod (Respect), Kehillah (Community), and Chesed (Kindness), the course challenges students to explore real-world problems through hands-on learning and purposeful design.
Makerspace is focused on utilizing design thinking for students to solve real-world problems. Makerspace is a place that provides hands-on, creative ways for students to design, experiment, and invent as they engage with a variety of tools and technology.
Students are introduced to the engineering design process, engaging in collaborative projects and challenges that are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the World Economic Forum’s 21st Century Skills for Lifelong Learning. These challenges build essential competencies such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration—skills that are not only critical for future careers, but also necessary to address the complex issues facing our world today.
What is the purpose of a makerspace?
In Worlds of Making, Laura Fleming defines it as “a place where young people have an opportunity to explore their own interests; learn to use tools and materials both physical and virtual; and develop creative projects.” Makerspaces, she argues, should be adaptable—shaped not only by educational goals, but also by students' own creativity and interests (Fleming, 2015, p. 5).
Makerspace
Our Makerspace curriculum is guided by both NGSS Engineering Standards and ISTE Standards for Students, ensuring students develop strong digital literacy, design thinking, and computational thinking skills. Through the use of technology tools, digital media platforms, and hands-on design strategies, students learn to communicate ideas creatively and confidently in a variety of formats and for a range of purposes.
Each unit integrates content from science, math, humanities, Jewish studies, and art, allowing students to make meaningful connections across disciplines.
As students tackle open-ended problems, they are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and reflect on their learning—developing a growth mindset along the way.
List of 2 items.
-
Skills for the Future
Every Makerspace project is intentionally designed to build a robust toolkit of 21st-century skills, including:- Creativity and innovation
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Oral communication and public speaking
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Digital and media literacy
- Research and goal-setting
- Independence and self-management
Through project-based learning, discovery, design thinking, and inquiry-based instruction, students become active, empowered learners. More than just preparing for future academic or career paths, Makerspace helps shape compassionate leaders and responsible citizens who are ready to contribute meaningfully to the world around them. -
Design Thinking
Design Thinking is a mindset and approach to problem-solving and innovation. Design thinking is different from other innovation and ideation processes in that it’s solution-based and user-centric rather than problem-based. This means it focuses on the solution to a problem instead of the problem itself. Teaching students this non-linear, iterative process used to challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. It is most useful to tackle ill-defined or unknown problems and involves five phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test.
Why Have These Programs?
The needs of the 21st century learner transcend conventional approaches to education. Schools assuming that what worked ten, twenty or thirty years ago will still work with this new generation of learners runs the risk of becoming irrelevant. Parents need to be as mindful as schools of the needs of their children and be reflective of the fact that their own experiences give them an imperfect understanding of 21st century realities. Makerspaces, labs, global collaboration, and art studios are all spaces designed to engage the playful, stimulate the playful development of the young mind and sustain that development from K through eighth grade. Our responsibility as educators is to respond effectively to the changes that are being made in our society whether we want them or not. Our building endeavors and curriculum efforts are based in that reality.
Learning by Making, Creating and Curating
Central to our approach is our commitment to learning by doing. We have a makerspace, science lab, art room., outdoor learning areas throughout our campus and our faculty use them to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of a subject through building, manufacturing or creating, not just through test taking. Our Makerspace and lab are learning spaces for inquiry-based instruction along with project-based learning, tinkering, design thinking, constructivism and constructionism. This will happen during Panther Time, Tikkun Olam Innovation Days, as well as clubs, electives and our afterschool program.
Contact
About
Pardes Jewish Day School is a welcoming community Jewish day school committed to exceptional secular and Jewish education with a focus on academics and character development.
© Pardes Jewish Day School. All Rights Reserved