Ohio Edtech Conference 2026
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Maker Spaces Without Walls (WOW )
How do we reimagine makerspaces when space, budgets, and devices are limited? Maker SpacesWOW (Without Walls) invites educators to break down barriers and discover how purposeful technology use can bring STEAM learning to life on any device. This interactive session models how teachers can reboot hands-on learning by transforming everyday classrooms into virtual makerspaces that fuel creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Participants will engage in a rapid design sprint using empathy, iteration, and feedback, experiencing low-floor/high-ceiling STEAM challenges that work seamlessly on Chromebooks, laptops, or tablets. Key platforms—Makers Empire, Qweebi, Microsoft MakeCode, and Tinkercad (Codeblocks, Sim Lab, Circuits)—will be used to show how students can design, build, and share ideas, even without printers or dedicated labs. You’ll shift from the learner lens to the teacher lens, exploring strategies for adapting makerspace projects to different grade levels, class periods, and subject areas—including integrations with math, science, ELA, and SEL. The workshop highlights Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and equity-centered practices for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and under-resourced schools. Audience: K–8 teachers, media/library specialists, instructional coaches, administrators, tech directors. Tools: Makers Empire, Qweebi, Microsoft MakeCode, Tinkercad (Codeblocks, Sim Lab, Circuits), editable lesson templates, rubrics, empathy maps. Take-aways:
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3D Design, Print, Inspire: Boosting Spatial Reasoning and Creativity in the Classroom.
What if closing STEM gaps and sparking creativity didn’t require more drills, but reimagining learning with design thinking and 3D design? This interactive workshop is for K–8 teachers, tech coaches, media specialists, and anyone seeking practical, inclusive ways to build spatial reasoning and creative confidence across the curriculum. Discover how tools like Makers Empire make 3D design accessible on Chromebooks, laptops, or tablets, with or without a 3D printer. A 3D printer will be onsite, allowing participants to walk through the full design-to-print process—from digital modeling to slicing, setting up the printer, and actually printing a model. Hands-on mini-challenges will guide you through design thinking, digital prototyping, and troubleshooting, all using workflows you can replicate with your own students. You’ll experience every step: “design → check → slice → print or share → reflect,” and practice using print-check rubrics, UDL-friendly strategies, and peer feedback that support all students—including multilingual learners and those with special needs. The session also highlights classroom routines, time-saving management tips, and project ideas for low-resource settings, along with strategies for integrating 3D design into math, science, ELA, and SEL. Evidence from current research and real classrooms will be shared, showing how 3D design builds spatial reasoning, creativity, and student motivation. Tools:
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