Speaker's School Experience
What did the speaker struggle to do in a traditional classroom setting?
Sit still and pay attention.
According to the speaker, what is a "maker"?
Someone who furthers their knowledge through exploration.
What does the speaker say children are naturally good at?
Exploring.
What does the speaker say leads to true understanding?
Discovery and exploration.
How does the speaker describe a Kamloops Makerspace?
A non-profit community workshop where users have access to tools, resources, and a community of amazing, creative people.
What was the speaker taught to focus on while in school?
Passing standardized tests.
What culture influenced early Makerspaces?
The often misunderstood hacker culture of the '80s and '90s.
What did the young girl noticed by the speaker at the Makerspace unknowingly show skill in?
Spatial recognition.
What quote does the speaker reference about explaining ideas simply?
"If you cannot explain something simply, you do not understand it well enough."
What does the speaker ask visitors to do while visiting a Makerspace?
To tell him what a Makerspace is in their own words.
What was the metaphor used by the speaker to describe himself in his school environment?
A race car ready to explore but stuck on a freeway of standardized tests.
According to the speaker, what is the original meaning of "hacking"?
Taking something apart and making it do something it wasn't originally intended to do.
What did the mother of the young girl noticed by the speaker at the Makerspace think about her ability in school?
That she was struggling in school and needed to be put in special classes.
What type of learning does the speaker believe to be more effective than being told answers?
Experimentation and problem solving.
According to the speaker, what types of people are allowed in Makerspaces?
People of all ages, backgrounds, and viewpoints.
What kinds of lessons did the speaker find more valuable, or "flourish" in, during their school experience?
Projects and mentorships.
Why was the word "maker" described as a misnomer?
Because it embodies more than the physical. It also embodies the ideas and concepts around us.
What made the young girl noticed by the speaker able to focus at the Makerspace, according to the speaker?
She was able to choose her own challenge, rising to achieve it.
What is the main difference between being taught and discovering something?
Being taught leads to surface knowledge, while discovery leads to deep understanding.
What is an unexpected benefit the speaker saw in children at the Makerspaces?
Being able to concentrate deeply and solve problems.
What did the speaker use as examples of important information that was not being taught in his school?
Skills needed to navigate life, get a job, pay taxes, and feel sated intellectually.
What examples did the speaker give of how the Makerspaces have inspired innovation?
Enabling and empowering members of the public to make and explore, cross-pollination between art and technology, and parents getting to watch their children explore.
What lesson does the speaker hope parents learn from the Makerspace?
To let children explore freely and find their interests.
What does the speaker say about the "bag of luck" and "bag of experience"?
That we must fill our bag of experience before we empty our bag of luck, which is done by exploring and discovering new things.
According to the speaker, how can Makerspaces change the future?
By empowering kids who have the potential to become leaders, entrepreneurs, creators, and problem solvers.