This actually started a year ago and wasn’t finished. Now with some perspective from my life, I came back and wanted to finish what I started. I was never a quitter, maybe a procrastinator, but I working on that. 

This semester was more everything because I am graduating, so going into this I wasn’t sure where this would go. So I had my materials and I started. Thank you for taking it easy on us at first Dr. B. It helped me build my confidence. I was most proud of my circuit #10 The Spinning Motor. I ran into some problems with it and had to switch things out to get it to work and when it did I was very excited. The week before had been a failure, so I wasn’t sure going into that week and when I ran into problems I got frustrated. Then I remembered to work the solution and figured it out. 

During this whole course, there was a master plan at work and we gradually were brought up to a point where we became more solutions-oriented than problem solving. By that I mean we are looking at the bigger picture (at least that is how I see it). It isn’t one circuit or one line of code - what are we solving overall? I feel I have grown from my first “baby steps” into a better thinker overall. In the beginning, I needed those little steps to help me find the way and now I want to take things apart and see how they work and make them better. Even if I don’t make it better, I will still learn. 

In completing all the circuits and trials we completed this semester I learned another way to have fun. I created art and did other projects in the past, but now I can create with code and electricity. I want to learn more about coding and other things that can be created like automated watering systems, solar power, and all sorts of stuff. I never messed with this before (I had an Erector set when I was little, but nothing like this). This interest came from this class and Makerspaces! I did not know what was out there. I have worked in creative art spaces, but these spaces are on steroids and I LOVE IT! I have had craft rooms and DIY spaces with drill presses, sanders, jigsaws, and other tools, but these take tools to another level and I want to achieve that level. I learn better by hands-on trial and this is a way for me to do just that. 

In learning all this new knowledge, I also realized that there are no limits for me other than the ones I set for myself. I have had people tell me in my past that I could not do this or that and I believed them when I shouldn’t. I can learn and do whatever I want (it may take a little time to master) and now I know I can. 

If one of my students were writing this blog for class, I think I would be proud of them. It would show that they overcame an obstacle that was keeping them from succeeding. That is what we want our students to do is succeed. Seeing that progress and having them able to understand that they have made that progress would be very satisfying as a teacher. It would let me know that they could handle so much more. 

During this semester there were several challenges and most of them had to do with managing my time and frustration. This was not like other classes where I researched and wrote papers. I had to do stuff and create things (Yes, there was research and papers and other work too), but this class was different. As I was better able to work with the Arduino Starter Kit and its parts I was able to understand what I needed to do to make it work. Then, things became more manageable. Then I hit week 4 and that went out the window and I started all over again. Every time I failed, I still learned. It wasn’t like turning in a paper and getting a bad grade. It was the process of figuring out something new and failing at this is part of the process. 

By the definition of a maker, I have always been one. I created all types of art. I have learned to weld for sculpture (making hinge suck, but when they work it is awesome). I have always worked in a wood shop using a drill press, bandsaw, hand tools, and sanders, and now I can add this. I want to continue to work with Makerspaces and try to create them in the areas I live. I would personally like to learn how to code and use 3D printers and see what I could do with them. This has opened up a new area for me and I am not sure where it will take me yet, but I am excited about the prospects. 

For now, I am applying for jobs in educational technology. I hope that I can use the position to bring a Makerspace to life where I will work and create great stuff! Here goes something!