Infinite Possibilities: Announcing Advent’s First Makerspace Day

On Friday, February 2, Advent will hold its first all-school Makerspace Day. Makerspace Day will showcase how STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) and design thinking show up every day at Advent.

This event brings together the work of faculty members Rae Ortega, Science, Vicky de la Garza P'23'27, Atelierista, and the Enrichment program, led by Director of Enrichment Stephanie Foland and Associate Director of Enrichment Sam Gold. 

ECC students build with LEGOs during project time.

On Makerspace Day, students will rotate through two stations. The station themes include LEGOs, building with cardboard, exploring AI, shadow puppets, BeeBots, and more! They will make community connections as they interact with students across all grades in fun and engaging ways. 

The importance of time and space to tinker, discover, and play relates to design thinking. Design thinking is a problem-solving approach centered on understanding people's needs, developing creative ideas, and testing them. It teaches students stamina, resilience, and risk-taking.

"Design thinking shows up daily in Enrichment," says Sam Gold, Associate Director of Enrichment.

"We often give the students challenges or projects that don't require one way of doing it. Whether designing a home for an animal friend or writing a song that follows a rhythmic pattern, kids grow and shine when given space to be creative."

Stephanie Foland, Director of Enrichment, runs Advent's Design at Advent summer program, where making and tinkering take center stage. She has been integral in planning the upcoming Makerspace Day and said this about the day, "When I think of Makerspace, I think of possibilities." 

She continued, "It brings me back to one of my first Makerspace Saturday events six years ago with Tim Merle from Buildwave. Participants were provided small boxes with Plus-Plus and a two-minute timer to build anything they wanted.

“While walking around, I saw a student's creation, which, to an outside observer, was a pile of blue Plus-Plus. It was a lake or ocean scene, but when I asked the students, they said it was 'a pool of infinite possibilities.' 

“Right at that moment, I knew I was part of something special. I was part of something that offered an avenue of thinking and creating without limits or barriers. It was a space where I could be who I was and make what I wanted and a space that opened my world to 'infinite possibilities.'"

We are excited to host our first Makerspace Day and see what the students create!