1. Tricia Edwards
Head of Education
Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center
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Family Engagement in Hands On Learning
A Proposal for SXSWEdu 2018
2. Key Questions
• Why are parents/caregivers
often uncomfortable taking an
active role in hands on learning
and making environments?
• What are different ways to
involve parents/caregivers in
hands on learning and making?
• What are best practices and
practical ways to empower
parents/caregivers to take an
active role in hands on learning
and making—while still keeping
the activity child-centered?
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Kids invent (while dad checks his phone) at the Smithsonian’s
Draper Spark!Lab
3. What influences adult engagement?
This session will examine research conducted by the Smithsonian’s
Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation in its hands
on invention center, Draper Spark!Lab. Participants will hear about
various interventions, such as signs and instructions and interactions
with staff that influence if and how parents and caregivers engage in
the learning and making process.
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9. What are the practical takeaways?
Participants will leave with practical and easy-to-implement strategies
for engaging parents and caregivers in hands on learning in their own
educational environments. Participants will be encouraged to offer
their own ideas and to ask questions of the presenter and fellow
attendees.
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