We're excited to kick off the new year and participate in several conferences during the first half of 2024. We'll present at each conference below and would love for you to join us! Upcoming Conferences Indiana STEM Education Conference  January 11th 50+ STEM presentations Networking with STEM education vendors Professional Growth Points for teachers We'll be there, come see us at our booth! Join us for our training sessions (STEW 279): 10:10 am - Meet Dash, Your Friendly Coding Companion in STEM Education 11:40 am - Mine an Asteroid with TeacherGeek Electromagnetic Crane ..read more

We're excited to announce the 1st Maker Space Microcontroller Trainer, an Arduino-compatible platform specifically designed for educators and students, which helps build a foundation in computer science, programming, and electronics. What is the Arduino, and why is it important? The Arduino is a microcontroller board, essentially a tiny computer running on an open-source platform with a dedicated programming language and syntax, ideal for beginner coders. But Arduino is more than just hardware; it combines user-friendly hardware, a unique programming language, and a vibrant global community ..read more

Our friends at the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, Indiana, were recently featured in an article in the South Bend Tribune, Their Mobile Makerspace, highlighted in the article, brings hands-on learning to kids across the county. As the Tribune reports, "In the parking lot of the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County sits a bright blue RV, resplendent against the South Bend late-fall sky." This RV is more than just a vehicle; it's a beacon of innovation and learning. The Mobile Makerspace project, in collaboration with 1st Maker Space, combines mobile technology and creative ..read more

Are you an educator or community leader looking to build an active maker community? If so, the Maker Manager Program is for you! From June 26-29, join us for four intensive training days of developing and sustaining a makerspace, STEM Lab, or innovation space. Our program covers everything from the basics of the maker movement to practical skills like managing your space and safety practices. We'll foster a maker mindset amongst participants while providing personalized coaching throughout the course - plus explore educational theories and build a maker community in your school or organizatio ..read more

1st Maker Space understands the importance of professional development for educators, which is why we have added two amazing new experts to our team - Megan Ewing and Natalie Parsons. Both bring with them extensive STEM teaching backgrounds from public school settings that will be invaluable assets to our Professional Development workshops. Professional development is one of the most important services provided by 1st Maker Space. Our PD workshops are designed to seamlessly integrate makerspace equipment into the classroom by connecting the maker mindset to current projects, Indiana Academic ..read more

New learning opportunities are underway in Gary Community Schools. Bailly STEM Academy was recently STEM Certified by the Indiana Department of Education, with Beveridge Elementary School and Glen Park Academy also having STEM initiatives in progress. Makerspace at Beveridge Elementary Part of the initiative to include STEM learning across Gary Community Schools includes adding makerspaces and STEM labs to provide flexible learning environments where project-based learning will occur. “Space can be incredibly important in determining how learning happens. Makerspaces provide an opportunity to ..read more

Every kid looks up at the sky and dreams of being able to fly with the birds. Only after flapping their arms fruitlessly for a minute or two do they realize that, alas, kids can’t fly. NOT SO FAST! Last weekend kids learned that they could fly at the Rush County ‘Tech Fest’ Drone Rodeo! The event was held in the basketball gymnasium of the Rush County Boys & Girls Club. 1st Maker Space constructed a drone ‘cage’ built with PVC pipe and bird netting – complete with take-off and landing platforms and hula hoop obstacles to fly through. The mammoth 10’ x 10’ x 10’ cage attracted lots of atten ..read more

Recently, we were inspired by a presentation from Christopher Day, the CEO of Elevate Ventures, an Indianapolis-based entrepreneurial venture capital firm. Day's message on the importance of the trades and entrepreneurship in STEM education resonated deeply with us. STEM education is not just about engineers and coders but also those in sales, marketing, and the often-overlooked trades. Likewise, a makerspace or STEM lab isn't just about tools and materials but also students' and educators' dreams, aspirations, and promises of a brighter future. It's where creativity meets purpose, passion me ..read more

This article is based on an interview of Kim Brand, the Founder and President of 1st Maker Space. You can listen on YouTube or download here. In a rapidly evolving world, traditional educational models are increasingly challenged to meet future workforce demands. One innovative solution is 3D printing and makerspaces, which have been gaining traction as powerful tools for fostering students' creativity, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset. At the forefront of this movement is 1st Maker Space, an organization led by president and owner Kim Brand. In an insightful interview on the "Who ..read more

The Hamilton County Center for Career Achievement was established by the Hamilton County City Council as a way to advance CTE opportunities for students throughout the county. The Hamilton County Center for Career Achievement is currently focused on conducting a needs assessment and begin to develop innovative strategies to bridge the gap. “The focus (of the Hamilton County Center for Career Achievement) is to be highly engaged with the local workforce. We do not plan to develop a brick-and-mortar Career and Technical Education center. Instead, the focus is to reinvest into the CTE programming ..read more