SXSWedu is just around the corner! I’m super excited because it will be an action-packed three days. If you are in Austin for the event, there will be lots of #teched events and great sessions planned.

Maker Mentor

On Tuesday March 7th, I’m part of the mentorship program, and I have a few open mentor slots left. This unique experience offers “curious attendees 10 minutes with a one-on-one mentor.” You can sign up for one of these spots and chat with me about:

• Beginning your own makerspace journey. We can discuss startup resources to complement maker supplies based on interested topics like: coding/programming, robotics, invention, circuitry, and digital fabrication.
• Bringing creativity into classrooms, library programming, and daily lesson planning.
• Gaining creative confidence and how it can embolden you and your students to believe that they can have an idea and find a way to make it come to life and change our world.

Maker Ed Meetup

Tuesday, March 7th, in the evening there will be a Maker Educator meet-up with food, drink, making, and meeting other awesome maker educators. It’s from 6-8 pm and the location is still being decided. Thanks to Maker Ed and Cognizant for hosting!

Core Convo on Invention Literacy

After my core convo at SXSWedu in 2015, I decided it was one of the best ways to learn alongside conference attendees. In a Core Convo, the audience is an integral part of the session since the session leaders ask the big questions and field responses from attendees.

Jay Silver (of Makey Makey Fame) and I will be leading an hour long conversation on “Reaching 95% Invention Literacy.” We need your voice and your thoughts, so save this session info and come join the conversation on Wednesday, March 8th from 2:00pm-3:00pm in Salon C of the JW Marriott.

YOU need to be a part of this core convo on Invention Literacy!

Book Signing

After the Invention Literacy session, Aaron and I will be signing The Big Book of Makerspace Projects  on Level 3 of the Austin Convention Center. (Wednesday, March 8 at 3:30pm-4:00pm)

Other Sessions to Attend

I’m pretty stoked to see these sessions by other awesome maker educators:

• Elementary Making, a Design Thinking Experience with Sam Patterson and Elaine Wrenn
• Four Ways of Making Maker Ed in Schools with Christa Flores, Patrick Benfield, Sean Justice, and Erin Riley
• Makerspaces: How to start with a Mindset not a Toolset with Krissy Venosdale, Manuel Herrera, Mark Schreiber, and Rebecca Hare
• The World Needs More Inventors, Starting with Kids with Danielle Applestone, Emily Pilloton, and Liam Nilsen
• EdCorps: Where STEAM Meets Student Run Business with Ashley Greenway, Dan Ryder, Elyse Burden, and Todd Keruskin
• ScratchX: The Next Frontier for Scratchers with Jacy Edelman and Kreg Hanning
• Crowdfunding Equitable and Inclusive Makerspaces with Jessica Parker and Stephanie Chang
• Designing Creative Learning Experiences with Christan Balch, Eric Schilling, and Sarah Otts

Can’t wait to see you there! Please comment below to let readers know about other great sessions to attend!