SAN FRANCISCO, CA — (Marketwired) — 09/21/15 — Maker Media, publisher of Make: magazine and producer of Maker Faire, announced the Make: Education Forum, a new event added to the lineup for Maker Faire Week New York, September 21-27. The program is slated for Friday, September 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Partnering with Make: to present the event are The New York Hall of Science, where the inaugural event will be hosted, and MakerEd.org. The diverse speaker lineup includes individuals from policymakers to private sector executives to educational professionals who have been involved early on, at various levels, in shepherding programs that bring Making into schools across the country.

“There are a number of pioneering educators who were among the first to see the significant impact that Making can have on education, and how life-changing it can be for kids who are exposed to a different way of learning, whether through Charter-like schools, or through more informal programs,” said Dale Dougherty, founder and executive chairman of Maker Media. “This event provides an opportunity to recognize these trailblazers, and provides a forum for them to share with others what they are doing and the insights they have gleaned. “

Tom Kalil, Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Carmen Farina, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education; and Ellen Lettvin, Robert Noyce Senior Fellow in Informal STEM Learning for the U.S. Department of Education, are among the impressive list of speakers leading the discussions for the day. Other influencers contributing to the conversation are school principals and superintendents, other educational professionals, makerspace coordinators, librarians, national and local government officials, and youth program organizers.

“We need to teach our students and their teachers skills that stress flexibility, creative thinking, problem solving and that prepare them for college and well-paying jobs. Computer science is for all of our students, from pre-K all the way through grade 12, and using technology in the classroom brings that education alive,” said Carmen Farina. “One of the great parts of my job is visiting schools, and I’ve had the pleasure to see studentsbuilding and operating robots, designing websites and I’ve even been shown how to use Scratch. Students are thinking critically, being innovative, learning to work in teams, and gaining poise as they teach each other and sometimes the adults in the room. We live in a digital world, and that has to be an opportunity for educators, not an obstacle.”

The panels will tackle topics relevant to the evolving education landscape in the U.S. and the development of a more Maker-focused curriculum, including: “Making in Schools;” ”Leading the Maker Movement in Education;” ”Reinventing Shop Class;” ”Learning from Informal Learning;” and, “How to Fund More Making in Schools.”

“It is no secret that learning happens most readily when students are encouraged to learn through the experience of doing something meaningful,” said Margaret Honey, President and CEO of NYSCI. “The do-it-yourself ethos of the maker movement encourages children to discover their innate talents and curiosity about the world. By convening this forum on the eve of World Maker Faire, we hope that educators everywhere can gain inspiration from those in the profession who are at the forefront of reimagining classrooms as laboratories for design-based learning where students pursue their passions, share knowledge, work collaboratively and gain experience with real-world problem solving and innovation.”

Tickets to the event are available for $75. For more information about attending the Make: Education Forum, the event schedule, complete speaker lineup, and to register, visit MakerFaire.com and go to the New York tab.

About MAKER MEDIA Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around them. The launch of Make: magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Headquartered in San Francisco, Maker Media is the publisher of Make: magazine and the producer of Maker Faire. It also develops “getting started” kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels. The Make: brand caters to a universe of more than 25 million makers collectively across its Make: magazine, makezine.com, Maker Faires, and Maker Shed properties.

About Maker Faire Week New York Maker Faire Week is a week-long celebration for Makers with activities, events, meetups, parties and more, all focused around the Maker Movement. With reach across all sectors, including tech, design, education, city planning and artistry, Makers will enjoy meeting and collaborating with their peers at events around the greater New York area from September 21-27, culminating with World Maker Faire. Maker Faire Week New York also hosts signature events presented by Maker Media including MakerCon, the professional conference by Makers for Makers on September 24, Make: Education Forum on September 25 and World Maker Faire on September 26 and 27. With over 150 Maker Faires worldwide, Maker Faire Week New York is just one of the ways that the Maker Movement reaches over 1 million people, including families, educators, inventors, artists, corporate professionals and investors each year. Learn more about Maker Faire Week New York here.

Contact: Brita Muller brita@makermedia.com (415) 949-1423