Maker Movement Front and Center at EDexpo

  • 01/22/15

Silver Spring, Md.— Makerspaces will be showcased at EDexpo 2015 with a unique exhibit area and education offering to help dealers and manufacturers tap into this growing opportunity surrounding hands-on learning.

Syliva Martinez, the co-author of Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom, will present a General Session on February 21 entitled: “Makerspaces – The New Trend that Can Add Dollars to Your Bottom Line.” Sylvia is the preeminent expert on Makerspaces working in schools around the world to bring the power of authentic learning into classrooms, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects. She will be sharing her knowledge on these do-it-yourself spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn, and share strategies on how to capitalize on this trend in education.

EDexpo attendees will get to experience a Makerspace right on the exhibit floor as Atlanta area Makerspaces (or Maker communities) participate in a contest to see who can create the most innovative education-related project. The Education Market Association (EDmarket) has partnered with Decatur Maker, a non-profit in the Atlanta area, to organize the space. These projects will be demonstrated during show hours so that attendees can interact with the makers and try out the equipment. The participating organizations will display typical tools found in Makerspaces along with any other displays that capture the spirit of making such as a 3D printer, laser cutter, robotics demonstration, woodworking equipment, prototyping demonstration equipment, and more.

“The Maker movement represents an opportunity for growth by combining the tactile resources our members already provide with new and exciting products that are needed to meet the demand for STEAM and Fab labs,” says Jim McGarry, EDmarket President and CEO.

For more information on EDexpo 2015, Feb. 22-24 in Atlanta, please visit www.edexpo.com.

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