For University of Mary Washington junior Jamie Sherman, a sign on the Seacobeck Hall Makerspace door says it all.
“It reminds students to make mistakes and think about things before trying again,” said the historic preservation major who is also minoring in education studies.
That philosophy underpins the University of Mary Washington’s Maker Mindset Conference, which highlights the importance of project-based, trial-and-error-style learning that ties STEM-related lessons together with collaboration and critical thinking. Packed with breakout sessions on everything from 3D printing to marketing principles, the conference gives current and future educators the tools they need to spark innovation, agency and purpose in K-12 classrooms and prepare students to thrive in today’s unpredictable world.
The fourth annual event – themed “Beyond the Build: Empowering Creative Problem Solvers” – is set to take place Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Academy of Innovation and Technology at UMW (ATI-UMW). The deadline to register is Wednesday, Feb. 4.
“The idea was to offer an affordable professional learning opportunity for educators in our area,” said College of Education Director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships Kristina Peck, who launched the event in 2023 with Assistant Professor of Education Danielle Ott. “So many conferences are so expensive that many teachers are unable to take advantage of them.” Read more about UMW’s Maker Mindset Conference.