In 2019 I started running a Makerspace at Kaikohe West School. The space is called the Innovation Station ~ Wāhi Auaha.
Students from each class come to me on their teachers release day and they get to learn, create, share, make, explore and collaborate in a S.T.E.A.M based environment. STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking (Enabling E-Learning, TKI). The tamariki partake in hands on learning, which helps their critical thinking skills and can enhance their self-confidence and resilience. It's ok to try, and it's ok to fail, that's how we learn. Student Agency is a major component within the Innovation Station. Student Agency is "learning through activities that are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, and often self-initiated with appropriate guidance from teachers"(KEN: Student Agency Slide).
