Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom

This book stands out from the trendy and hyperbolic style of so many educational books these days. It is so well written, and the first chapter lays such a solid epistemological groundwork it's easy to see these authors know what they are doing. Too many authors try to sound like they have invented a miracle, but these guys know their way around so well they don't need to exaggerate. The book as zero filler and and anyone doing project-based learning is bound to improve their practice if they give this book some of their attention.

This book has blown my mind open from the moment I picked it. And in the week that I've had it, I've been unable to put it down. Having the luxury of being a homeschooling family, I know we are not subject to the same types of learning as in the typical classroom. Yet, I find my institutional buttons being pressed all time. Is he learning? EEK. We need to do more worksheets! To be fair, the authors brought what's in my heart to life. So I wasn't starting from ground zero as far as the philosophy. This book just pushed me over the edge into full blown constructivism. In just 2 days of going to a maker model with my son, we are both PUMPED about learning and making and tinkering. I honestly think this book is life changing. I don't have enough words of praise and thanks!

Although Gary Stager is a self-professed and shameless self-promoter, this book is a must read for educators in a position to take charge of their curriculum and even for those who are not. If you get one or two ideas out of it for your classroom, it is worth it. Sylvia Martinez brings some common sense and a sense of reality to the table. Interestingly, there is really nothing new here but the ideas John Dewey brought to us early in the last century are well worth the review and reflection in our time. This book does it. It is a quick read. Go for it.

I found this to be an engaging and well documented advocacy for project based hands-on learning. Socrates said, "Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel". These two authors, both educators with deep and broad experience, lay out a compelling case for this type of approach. Today, more than ever, we need creative innovators if, as a nation, we are going to compete effectively in a global economy. The kind of learners and learning described and advocated in this book will, in my opinion, be critically important in taking us to that place. Some may view project-based, hands-on learning as a throwback to a past era, I feel, along with the authors, that, instead, it may well be an indispensable means for prospering in the burgeoning technological age into which we are careening at an astounding pace.

I know, who am I to criticize?! This is more of an evaluation for me than to be critical but the two are so synonymous that my parsing of words can be construed as meaningless, it makes sense in picture form. Really. Martinez and Stager build on Piaget and Papert's premise that people, emphasis here on children, learn best by hands on, imagination, creativity, using objects, et al. I agree with this premise on the most part. The author's build on the foundation of other's and attempt to demonstrate the foci of education is better suited to their premise. Again, I agree on the most part. But, as they so correctly point out in the introductory portion and first chapter, the problem has been government, political, and other's interfering with teachers being able to teach. The real problem as I see it is our collective attempts at forcing a one size fits all in education. The vast majority of us as teachers already adhere or practice what Martinez and Stager advocate in this book. I reduced the star rating by one for doing what they accuse others of doing in the education system. It is amazing by working with and teaching those in our classrooms, the diversity of students we interact with and influence. Not all children, young people, etc. learn the same way as the author's seem to say. There are some students who excel beyond our expectations and are really self-learners who would be slowed down in their learning if the author's were to achieve their ideal teaching philosophy be enforced on all students. Then there are those students who seem to us to be "slow" in learning or need to go to the "special needs" class for one reason or another which essentially 'dumbs' them down as they lacked one inability or another compared to the majority of the rest of the class. I realize there is no miracle cure in education that an ideal philosophy would work with everyone. Teachers do need to be allowed to actually teach especially being able to direct the teaching to the students needs and not some artificial one size fits ally system which clearly has failed too many. I also realize I may have a misunderstanding with the authors intent, but shouldn't this book include pictures and diagrams attributing in visual form what they expound. Thus another star reduction. Yet, I do recommend this book as it does assist in building an understanding for the Maker Movement and Invent to Learn as those avenues have demonstrated to be effective and works well in the education system and encourages life long learning with the student.

This is a must-have for any STEM teacher... or really any parent or teacher who wants their kids/students thinking and making. It has lots of resources and great ideas. The authors are clearly knowledgeable in the field and have lots of experience. There's a website that accompanies the book with updates and even more great info. The authors also have websites that are valuable resources. I purchased the Kindle edition. The paper version might be a bit better for bookmarking, highlighting and scribbling notes. Again, great book.

A surprisingly good book by the end. The first part is a little slow and pretty superficial. The first few chapters add another pile of flimsy support to the field of educational research, where poorly controlled, ad hominem argument seems to rule the day. Fortunately, the basic underlying tenet is solid and carries the day and the authors cut to the chase with very practical suggestions and methodologies which many starting teachers would find pretty useful.

O livro aborda vários aspectos importantes para a implementação da cultura maker na escola, desde dos espaços maker, aprendizagem baseada em projetos, o incentivo à criatividade e autonomia do aluno etc. Além de fornecer diversas outras fontes de consultas.

Great insights into the history of making and making Tinkering happen

The beggining of the book is very interesting and give a lot of reasons to teach in a practical way

An excellent primer for creating a makerspace or fablab environment--from concept to practical suggestions.

I received a recommendation for this book during a Maker Faire. I bought it, dip in and out, apply it in my teaching and reflect. I've recommended it more times than I can remember. It should be part of every educators essential kit. Don't keep reading reviews - buy the book!