We’re excited to introduce our community to another "Eduporium Featured Educator." Each month, we’re highlighting the work of an educator who is effectively using EdTech to empower his or her students with greater learning opportunities. We love being able to share their stories and their work with you and hope this series continues to give all educators encouragement to try new things in the classroom! This month, we’re featuring Victoria Blackmer, a public librarian from Illinois, who has been using EdTech she received through our grant program to host open tinker labs to inspire the kids in her community to experiment and be creative!
Victoria Blackmer
Public Librarian, Youth Services Dept., Robert R. Jones Public Library, Coal Valley, IL
Q&A:
What have you done with the EdTech you've received through our grant?
We have been experimenting with all of the fantastic products we have received through the Eduporium grant. We have begun hosting "open tinker labs," during which children of all ages and grown-ups are welcome to explore, imagine, create, and learn. We have a handful of selected kits and other materials that we received from your gracious grant available for the public's use.
Continuously inspired by how children of all ages find excitement with experimenting through different materials and processes, our open tinker lab is designed so that kids can learn how to foster their own curiosity and creativity. We also provide accessible materials without highly structured steps or directions so that children are free to experiment with new processes and tap into their own innate creativity. This program has become very popular and was only able to come into volition thanks to the Eduporium grant.
What are 2-3 of your favorite EdTech tools?
The Makey Makey is a grand-slam! Edison Robots are also incredible and both E-Blox and Snap Circuits kits offer exploratory fun for all ages.
What interests you most about Eduporium?
I am inspired by the Eduporium team's commitment to effectively help children learn and grow through cooperative partnerships with the goal that every child has access to meaningful technology and that no child is forgotten.
We thank Victoria for speaking with us! If you know of an educator who is doing exciting things with EdTech, feel free to recommend them (or yourself!) for us to feature next by emailing us with a short blurb about how you’ve used tech tools to empower your students! Find out more about how Eduporium can help revamp your classroom, library, or makerspace by exploring our site. Sign up as an educator and start saving with your discount!