Hartford-area Teachers Learn High-Tech Skills at MakerspaceCT

MakerspaceCT recently launched its Tech for Teachers program in partnership with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

The Tech For Teachers program spans one year with two cohorts of teachers who will be introduced to electronics, computer science and advanced manufacturing concepts through intensive workshops for a total of 18 hours direct instruction in the Arduino microcontroller, Linux and the Raspberry Pi single board computer, and the assembly and use of a 3D printer.

“Through our experience building the education program at MakerspaceCT, we found that many of our participants were educators who were seeking to bring new technologies into their classroom instruction and thereby expose their students to hands-on skill building experience,” said MakerspaceCT Education Director Drew Gates, who is Curriculum Administrator for the program.

Each teacher enrolled in the program receives a standard membership to MakerspaceCT’s Electronics, Digital Fabrication and software stations for the duration of the program.

Following the program, cohorts can return for a series of ongoing 3D printing workshops where they have the opportunity to bring their printers for service, support and continued education with MakerspaceCT instructors and experts. All materials, supplies, electronics components, support, consumables, and kits are supplied by MakerspaceCT.

“Our mission is to positively impact lives by enabling access, innovation, and education,” said MakerspaceCT Executive Director Devra Sisitsky. “Many of the people that use our space are starting their own business, creating a new product or upskilling for career advancement. Thanks to the generous grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, we are providing valuable training for teachers that will, in-turn, greatly benefit their students for years to come.”

Teachers in the school districts of Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, Windsor, Windsor Locks and Vernon were offered slots in the program. Everyone enrolled in the program attends free-of-charge and all materials, supplies, kits, consumables, and support are supplied by MakerspaceCT.

Workshops for the first cohort of participants started in November, while the second group of teachers will begin the program in February of 2020.

“We are thrilled by the progress we’ve seen in a short span of time with the first group of teachers,” said Sisitsky. “We will expand our program next year due to a resounding response from the educator community. Stay tuned to see our teachers knowledge and creativity explode into the world of virtual reality and Artificial Intelligence.”

More information about MakerspaceCT is available at www.makerspacect.com.

About MakerspaceCT

MakerspaceCT, located at 960 Main Street in the historic G. Fox building in downtown Hartford, opened this past April, and is the largest Makerspace in Connecticut and the second largest in New England. The space features 25,000 square feet of workshops that house more than a dozen shops with specialized manufacturing equipment, including wood, welding, textiles, plastics, 3D manufacturing and more.

MakerspaceCT provides opportunities not only for educators, entrepreneurs and small businesses, but also local hobbyists, crafters, students, and artists, providing training for individuals seeking to expand their skills and companies looking to expand their product lines.

MakerspaceCT supports an almost limitless variety of material types and fabrication processes - CNC Machining, Metal Fabrication, 3D Printing, Laser Engraving, Vacuum Forming and much more - equipment that is, in many cases, too expensive or too large for a home or small business to accommodate.

About the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Greater Hartford has many committed people, businesses and organizations working to foster a more equitable and vibrant place to live, work and raise a family. As Greater Hartford’s community foundation, the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving brings together the members of the community to share information, understand local problems and put resources behind effective solutions. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $750 million since its founding in 1925 to support efforts that promise substantial and lasting community benefit; our endowment ensures our region’s continued progress for generations to come. The Foundation serves 29 towns, hundreds of nonprofits and more than 750,000 residents in the Greater Hartford region.