Read about our faculty's approach to integrating maker education in STEM subjects on Open Access Government.
Read the story
Matt's Maker Space Labs at Point Park
Pictured are students Allison Plassio and Ava Cook exploring the new Matt's Maker Space Too, a second maker space classroom opened on Point Park's campus in 2023.
"One of the things I have enjoyed about studying maker space education at Point Park is that it shows us as teachers that students can learn subjects, standards and objectives without just assigning worksheets. When students enter a maker space, they are able to create inventions, bring their classroom activity to life or work with new materials they might have not been exposed to before entering the maker space." – Ava Cook '24
Our Community Partners
Point Park's Matt's Maker Space Lab is part of the regional Making It Happen in Makerspaces program, which includes several Pittsburgh partners:
- MakerEd Making Spaces: Expanding Maker Education Across the Nation
- The Education Partnership
- West Middlesex School District
- Sister Thea Bowman Academy
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Additionally, Point Park received a $281,830 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the School of Education's “Transforming Integrative Makerspace Education for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Pre-Service Teachers” program. Our community partners on the grant include:
- Matt's Maker Space
- Children's Museum Pittsburgh
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit
- Remake Learning
- Mt. Lebanon School District
- Manchester Academic Charter
In the News
- "Student Q&A: Educational Theories and Practices Course Opens Elementary Education Major Up to a World of Possibilities," Point Park University website, June 18, 2024.
- "Elementary Education Major and Working Mom Cydney Haines Touts Flexibility of Point Park's School of Education," Point Park University website, April 10, 2024.
- "With Two On-Campus Maker Spaces, Point Park University's School of Education Builds Meaningful Classroom Experiences," Point Park University website, Jan. 24, 2024.
- "On A Positive Note: 2nd Matt's Maker Space opens at Point Park University," KDKA-TV, Sept. 11, 2023.
- "School of Education Students Gain Classroom Experience Through Faculty's Maker, STEM Research," Point Park University website, May 17, 2023.
- "Get Career-Ready with: Kaitlyn Caiarelli '24, Elementary Education Major Seeking Dual Certification in Special Education," Point Park University website, March 31, 2023.
- "How Can We Make STEM Subjects More Engaging for Students?," Futurum, Jan. 2023.
- "Get Career-Ready with: Ava Cook '24, Elementary Education Major," Point Park University website, Nov. 18, 2022.
- "Get Career-Ready with: Sophie Jebose '23, Elementary Education Major," Point Park University website, Nov. 4, 2022.
- "Point Park University School of Education Receives National Science Foundation Grant to Support STEM Educator Training," Point Park University website, Nov. 30, 2021.
- "Photos: Point Park's School of Education Hosts Grand Opening for Matt's Maker Space Lab," Point Park University website, Aug. 31, 2021.
- "Point Park University's School of Education Opens Matt's Maker Space Lab," Point Park University website, Feb. 23, 2021.
For more information:
Virginia Chambers, Mark Marnich & Kamryn York
- Virginia Chambers, Ed.D.
- Phone: 412-392-6189
- Fax: 412-392-3927
- Email: vchambers@pointpark.edu
- Kamryn York, Ed.D.
- Phone: 412-392-3487
- Fax: 412-392-3927
- Email: kyork@pointpark.edu
- Mark Marnich, Ed.D.
- Phone: 412-392-3869
- Fax: 412-392-6180
- Email: mmarnich@pointpark.edu