Maker Education


Making is grounded in the tradition of constructionism, which believes that we learn best by building knowledge through experience, not through transmission and assimilation (think sage on a stage). When we engage with tools, materials, and each other in the process building objects we develop personal and lasting knowledge. Furthermore, the objects created become richly imbued with meaning and information that we can come back to again and again.

Quakerism and Making: The Power of Inquiry

So what does a religion founded in 17th century England and Making have in common? Simply put, both believe in the primacy of questions over answers. Not simple questions with simple answers, but complex ones that challenge us to investigate, explore, and grow. In the language of the maker movement we call these types of questions inquiries; within Quakerism they are called simply queries. Queries guide our thought and actions, and empower everyone to contribute to the work of peacefully transforming the world.