Learning Through Making: Designing Interdisciplinary STEAM based Learning Experiences, deLaBruere, Spring 2026

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S46
Instructor:	Lucie deLaBruere, M.S.
Location:	Online
Dates and Times:	February 02 - May 30, 2026. Synchronous Meetings (Required) • All required synchronous meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. • Participants may attend in person at Spark Studio or virtually via Zoom. o Monday, February 2, 2026 o Monday, March 2, 2026 o Monday, April 6, 2026 o Monday May 4, 2026 o Friday, May 29, 2026 - Time TBD (suggest 4:00–6:00 p.m.)
Credits:	2 Credits
Tuition:	Set by and payable to Create Make Learn

Course Description

This course prepares educators to design integrated STEAM learning experiences using project-based learning, UDL, and hands-on making. Participants build confidence with tools and technologies (including AI) for creating and making while creating student-centered learning experiences that support creativity, problem solving, and transferable skills.

Audience: Educators with a Bachelor's Degree in all subject areas including Technology Integrators, Art Educators, STEAM educators, Classroom Teachers, Librarians

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals: By participating in this course, educators will:

Understand the pedagogical foundations of learning through creating and making, including constructionism, design thinking, project-based learning, and Universal Design for Learning.
Develop confidence and fluency with tools, materials, and technologies used in maker-centered and STEAM learning environments, including AI to ethically and intentionally support learning and creativity.
Apply design thinking to the creation of an integrated, interdisciplinary STEAM learning experiences that intentionally include student voice and support deep learning.
Cultivate maker mindset and strengthen transferable skills through authentic making, iteration, experimentation, learning from failure, problem-solving and reflection

Course Objectives:

Identify pedagogical practices that support learning through creating and making.
Use a variety of low-tech and high-tech tools (e.g., materials for prototyping, fabrication tools, physical computing, coding, media, and AI tools) to support meaningful learning.
Apply design thinking processes to plan, prototype, test, and refine an integrated interdisciplinary STEAM learning experience that:

aligns with curricular or organizational goals
incorporates student voice and choice
includes hands-on making and creation
supports growth in transferable Skills

Document and reflect on the learning process, including evidence of iteration, decision-making, and professional growth.
Make informed, ethical decisions about when and how to use emerging technologies, including AI, in educational settings.

Required Texts

Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.

(Purchase)

Martinez, S. L., & Stager, G. (2019). Invent to learn: Making, tinkering, and engineering in the classroom (2nd ed.). Constructing Modern Knowledge Press.

(No Purchase Required)

Resnick, M. (2020). Lifelong kindergarten: Cultivating creativity through projects, passion, peers, and play. MIT Press.

Excerpts available through library

PBLWorks. (2023). Gold standard project-based learning.

https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design

Agency by Design. (2022). Maker-centered learning and thinking dispositions. Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

https://agencybydesign.org

CAST. (2024). Universal Design for Learning guidelines (Version 3.0).

https://udlguidelines.cast.org

Free online resource.

UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research.

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/guidance-generative-ai-education-and-research

Free online resource.

Other Selected ONLINE Resources and Tutorials based on weekly discussion and student specific projects.

For more information

Lucie deLaBruere

(802) 752-6086

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325

This course requires registration with Create Make Learn first using the Register Now link below. Once you register with Create Make Learn, you will be given the VTSU Center for Schools course credit link.