Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/776907
Creative, transformative educators see everything as a teachable moment. They understand that the essence of innovation is looking at what exists, taking a chance, and making it better, often after much trial and error. In fact, innovative educators know that while success is sweet, missteps and even failure are real possibilities — but are opportunities to learn and improve. These are lessons they impart to their students, and serve as lessons to us all. T he connected "cubelets" skit- ter across the table, following the finger of a student leading them like the Pied Piper. They look like toys, but the student isn't play- ing. She coded the robotic blocks to follow instructions. At another table, students play with circuitry, causing bulbs to light up and fashioning remote controls that turn objects into Internet-connected devices. A ball rolls around the room, controlled remotely by a student. Some huddle around a screen using Tinkercad software to create 3-D digital design objects, while a nearby 3-D printer creates a plastic chess piece that will soon become part of a set. The library at Tomas Rivera Middle School in Perris buzzes with activity. But students are not asked to shush, because middle school libraries in Val Verde Unified School District serve as Makerspaces, where students enjoy hands-on learning. CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY Kory Bootsma Val Verde Teachers Association D I S T R I C T L I B R A R I A N Val Verde Unified School District " If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." — Grants administrator Ignacio Estrada C 22 cta.org