At the MakerBus we try to keep up with viral maker projects. Ideas, videos, and projects that promise mind-blowing results with simple household materials. In this on-going blog series we’re going to test different viral maker projects and share our results. About two years ago, the DIY hologram project was a viral hit on the […]

Read more "Building a DIY smartphone hologram projector – is it as cool as the internet makes it look?"

‘Tis the season – a season that all too often celebrates consumerism. At the MakerBus we’re firm believers in critical making and ethical consumption – after all the maker movement celebrates building, tinkering, recycling, and finding creative solutions to problems. In the past few years we’ve noticed a big push by companies to commercialize the […]

Read more "Ideas for a maker movement Christmas"

At the MakerBus we’ve had the pleasure of testing a lot of different maker tools. We’ve written about maker tools that we don’t recommend, but this new series will share tools that we absolutely love. Tools that make adults feel like kids, and make kids feel like they have the power to create anything. Today’s […]

Read more "Our favourite maker tools: the Pixelstick"

We love the MaKey MaKey. Nothing will ever take the place of this quirky, fun, and downright joyous piece of maker technology. With that being said, a MaKey MaKey is not an inexpensive piece of equipment – especially if you’re buying a set for a makerspace, library, or classroom. That’s why we were thrilled to […]

Read more "How to make a micro:bit act like a MaKey MaKey (at a third the price)"

It can be easy to feel cynical about the direction of the maker movement as what started as a grass roots movement seems to be increasingly commoditized. The maker movement is everywhere these days – from schools, to libraries, to museums, to for-profit companies. With so many different people and organizations embracing the maker movement, […]

Read more "TreeOpp: How Cities Can Embrace the Maker Movement and Create Social Change"

Two weeks ago I delivered a keynote at the Big Sky Global Tech Summit in Big Sky Montana. Teachers at a local school in Big Sky have purchased a decommissioned school bus from their board and are busy transforming that bus into a mobile makerspace. Reflecting on the past 4+ years of MakerBus fun that Kim, Beth, […]

Read more "Five more essential pieces of advice for starting a makerspace (Part II)"

Last week I delivered a keynote at the Big Sky Global Tech Summit in Big Sky Montana. Teachers at a local school in Big Sky have purchased a decommissioned school bus from their board and are busy transforming that bus into a mobile makerspace. Reflecting on the past 4+ years of MakerBus fun that Kim, […]

Read more "Top Ten Essential Pieces of Advice for Anyone Starting a Makerspace (Part 1)"

Here at the MakerBus we’ve had the privilege of testing a lot of different tools and ideas with a lot of different audiences. From developing a teen literacy module that taught at-risk youth to build their own drones, to trying to set a World Record, to building a 3D printer on a kitchen table, we’ve […]

Read more "Five Maker Tools We Don’t Recommend"

Welcome to a new regular series on our blog, Makerspace Math. This series will focus on the “M” in STEAM, offering practical tips, tutorials, and ideas for incorporating math education into your makerspace. How 3D Printers Can Help With Math Education One of the most amazing things about 3D printing is its ability to make intangible […]

Read more "Makerspace math: How 3D printers can help with math education"