In collaboration with Albemarle County Public Schools, you are invited by Dr. Amber Simpson and Dr. Adam Maltese with the School of Education at Indiana University of Bloomington to participate in a research study: History, Qualities, and Beliefs of a Maker Educator. The purpose of the research study is to gain an understanding of the attributes and beliefs that are common across K-12 educators (e.g., teachers, instructional coaches, and support staff) who self-identity as Maker Educators, and how these commonalities distinguish them from K-12 educators who do not self-identify as Maker Educators. Generally speaking, this includes information regarding educational background, teaching philosophy, professional development experiences, interests, beliefs, and instructional methods specific to making activities. We seek the perspectives of an array of educators, as everyone’s experiences, attributes, and beliefs are unique.

Your role in this study will be to take part in a brief 5-minute survey and then an interview at a time most convenient for you. The interview will take approximately an hour to complete. Every effort will be made to keep your personal information confidential and you may choose to leave the study at any time.

We do not know of any way you would benefit directly from taking part in this study. However, this research may help us to understand how to develop Maker Educators through professional development opportunities, mentoring programs, and teacher education programs in post-secondary institutions. Additionally, this research may inform the formal and informal education of youth.

Interested in participating? Get started by providing some information about yourself »

Questions? Please contact Dr. Simpson at ambmsimp@iu.edu.