Play, Design, Create, Fail, Teach, and Repeat: A Design Case Of Designing a Maker Education Course for Preservice Teachers

Abstract

This design case shows a course designed for teaching preservice teachers about how to design literacy-infused STEAM learning experiences that involve both making and the use of educational technology at a large Midwestern land-grant university in the U.S. This course emphasizes the high-tech making activities in PK-12 formal education that offers students richer, more engaging, and potentially more meaningful learning experiences. The course expects to equip the preservice teachers with the understanding and skills they need to be ready to transform existing curricula in PK-12 education, incorporate curricula that cultivate creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving, and provide students authentic instructions and the opportunities to be the creators and owners of their learning. The current design case highlights design decisions during the design process.