Teresa Zimmer

Zimmer’s innovative teaching idea, “Making Makers,” is focused on challenging students to invent, experiment and take risks by enhancing the elementary school’s “makerspace” — an educational workshop for students who learn best by doing. Zimmer plans to improve this learning environment by adding circuit stickers, which are peel-and-stick electronics that students can use to build glowing, sensing and interactive projects without complicated equipment or programming skills. Adding a new component of circuitry to the “makerspace” workshop will provide infinite possibilities of open-ended inquiry, creativity, imagination, and learning that students will discover is fun, challenging and authentic. This type of hands-on, learning environment also will help reduce the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills for young girls.