Why are Makeathons useful?

Makeathons add prototyping to the educational toolkit, and provides a hands-on way of extending and applying traditional classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Preparing for a complex world

Today’s students will require a broad range of complex skills and understanding. They will face severe global societal challenges as well as an entirely new technological environment. Prepared students will be able to apply transferable skills, creative problem-solving and interdisciplinary understanding in new kinds of jobs. They will be able to apply technologies like robotics and AI in contexts we can’t predict.

A good education is, of course, critical in that preparation, but our approach must adapt to meet the needs of these students so they will be ready to innovate and tackle the challenges of the emerging circumstances. Makeathons can help in this regard by complimenting existing curricula with the following key elements.

1. Hands-on learning: Makeathons provide a hands-on learning experience where participants can apply what they have learned in a practical setting. This type of learning can be more effective than traditional classroom learning because it allows participants to see the real-world application of what they have learned.

2. STEAM skills: STEAM education uses the students’ own creativity to apply abstract and theoretical scientific knowledge to real-world problems. In a Makeathon, you will never hear a student say: “What’s the point of studying this? We will never use it in real life!”.

3. Collaboration: Makeathons require participants to work in teams, which promotes collaboration and communication skills. These skills are essential for success in many careers and are difficult to learn in a traditional classroom setting.

4. Innovation: Makeathons encourage participants to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems. This type of creative problem-solving is essential in many industries, including science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

5. Networking and making friends: Makeathons provide an opportunity for participants to connect with others in new ways and make new friends outside of their usual classroom or school context. Making connections with new people and being able to move between different social contexts is a key skill for future careers and broadens a student’s experience and horizons.

6. Fun and motivation: Makeathons are often fun and exciting events that can motivate participants to continue learning and pursuing their interests. This can lead to increased engagement in STEM fields and, ultimately, more innovation and progress in these fields.