Tinker Tailor Edtech Resources

Image provided by Carissa Rodgers

Do you like working with your hands? Want to learn how to build or create useful items that you can utilize in your everyday life? Are you a do-it-yourself (DIY) type of person? Then check out some of these online tools that can teach you how!

Most learning apps involve users staring at a screen and interacting with a device, be it a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or a phone. The edtech resources in today’s post encourage learners to take some time off from the screens and work on projects that will get their hands dirty and get their creative juices flowing.

The do-it-yourself projects that these resources contain have a lot of learning potential. Learners can gain and build up very useful soft skills like problem solving, experimentation, planning, and creativity. These skills can be applied to subjects such as science, engineering, math, and the arts. Teachers who implement project-based learning may find many of these online tools useful to use in the classroom. Parents can also use these tools to find activities they can do with their children that promote learning and team work.

Here are a few DIY edtech resources to get you started:

DIY

Subjects: Art, Engineering
What this Resource has: Video Tutorials, Online Community, Badges
Grade Level: K-8
Audience: Learners
Platform: Web based
Price: Free
What it does well: This website provides a great video tutorial library for projects, and a supportive online community. One interesting feature is DIY’s badge system, which rewards it’s users when they upload the finished product of their project.

Craftsy

Subjects: Art
What this Resource has: Online Courses
Audience: Learners
Platform: Web based
Price: Prices vary on each course
What it does well: Craftsy provides a great collection of online lessons for topics such as sewing, cooking, gardening, and more.

Bare Conductive

Subjects: Electrical Engineering, Circuitry
What this Resource has: Electrical project ideas, Circuit tools
Audience: Learners
Platform: Web based
Price: Prices for tools vary, but project ideas are free on the website!
What it does well: Bare Conductive is an interesting website that sells a conductive electric paint and other materials needed to build circuits. It also provides great step by step project ideas that mixes arts and crafts with electrical circuits.

Makey Makey

Subjects: Electrical Engineering
What this Resource has: Online Courses, Circuit Kits
Audience: Learners
Platform: Web based
Price: Subscription based (monthly), prices depend on project.
What it does: MaKey MaKey sells invention kits for anyone interested in creating new electrical inventions with a control pad and alligator clips. The site is based on research at MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten.

For more DIY online learning resources check out the DIY, Arts and Craft Edtech Pinterest board (which will always be updated with new resources):

Do you know any other do-it-yourself edtech resources that aren’t listed? Comment below and share with the rest of the class!