UTeach Maker: A Micro-Credentialing Program for Preservice Teachers

"Making" has been used to describe an internally motivated iterative design process that embodies notions of playful building and tinkering. Recently, interest in applying making to PK-12 education has increased. As schools add facilities dedicated to making, there is a need to support teachers in effectively utilizing these makerspaces. UTeach Maker is a microcredentialing program that supports preservice teachers interested in bringing making into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) classrooms and PK-12 makerspace environments. This article describes UTeach Maker and articulates success factors. These factors include a Maker Showcase framework, community support, and the public review and presentation of work in both digital and face-to-face formats. Challenges encountered in the program's first year and future steps are also discussed.