EduMakers Summer Educators Institute
Today’s classrooms are being asked to do more than deliver content—they are being asked to build creativity, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and real-world relevance into everyday learning. The EduMakers Summer Educator Institute, hosted by the Design Innovation Initiative at ֱ State University, is designed for K–12 educators who want practical, realistic ways to meet those expectations without overhauling their curriculum or adding more to their workload.
This immersive, hands-on professional development experience helps educators rethink how learning is designed and assessed by introducing challenge-based innovation, design thinking, and accessible maker tools as instructional strategies, not extras. Participants will explore how to replace traditional assignments—such as reports, essays, and presentations—with creative, standards-aligned alternatives that allow students to demonstrate understanding through making, designing, and iterating.
When: June 15-17, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Design Innovation Hub, 400 Janik Drive, ֱ, OH 44242
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2026
The Program
Over three days, educators will work alongside peers in grade-level teams to experience these approaches firsthand, adapt them for their own classrooms, and leave with classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, and assessment ideas they can use immediately.
Day 1 – Challenge-Based Innovation & Design Thinking
9:00 – 9:30 | Welcome, Introductions, and Institute Overview
9:30 – 10:45 | What is Challenge-Based Learning? Connecting Real-World Problems to Learning
10:45 – 12:00 | Design Thinking Foundations + Classroom Applications
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 2:30 | Hands-On Creative Prototyping: “Your Unique Utensil” Activity
2:30 – 3:30 | Lesson Project Kickoff – Grade Level Breakouts (K–5, 6–8, 9–12)
Day 2 – Maker Tools for Education
9:00 – 9:15 | Recap + Rotation Overview
9:15 – 10:30 | Cut, Create, Communicate: 2D Design as Alternative Assessment
10:30 – 10:45 | Break
10:45 – 12:00 | Make It, Print It, Test It: 3D Printing for Deeper Learning
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 2:15 | Unlocking Learning Dimensions: XR in the Classroom
2:15 – 3:30 | Lesson Integration Studio – Apply Tools to In-Progress Plans
Day 3 – Lesson Build Studio + Presentations
9:00 – 12:00 | Studio Work Time + Coaching Support
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 1:30 | Final Presentation Preparation
1:30 – 3:00 | Group Presentations (10 minutes per team + Q&A)
3:00 – 3:30 | Reflection, Certificates, and Next Steps
Price
Standard (K–12 educators): $400
KSU Education Students: $100
Bundle & Save: Register for EduMakers and add a 2026–2027 DI Educators Membership during checkout for just $100 more! That's a $150 savings off the regular combined pricing ($400 registration + $250 membership).
Contact hours are available to educators for participation in this program. More information will be provided at the event.
Design Innovation Educator Membership
Price: $250 per year
The DI Educator Membership is professional learning and innovation opportunity for regional K–12 educators and ֱ State education students. Members gain access to the Design Innovation Hub at ֱ State University (tools, spaces, community) during the academic year (August-May), monthly virtual Lunch & Learn sessions on collaborative innovation and classroom maker integration, free consultations related to classroom maker integration, and a growing online Canvas community featuring lesson ideas, discussions, and peer support. This membership is designed to empower teachers to creatively “hack the classroom” through human-centered design, design thinking, and hands-on prototyping so that they can become fearless educators capable of sparking student agency and problem-solving.
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