With two new Learning Managers joining Makers Empire, we thought it was a great time to introduce our learning team based in Australia. The Makers Empire learning team is responsible for delivering professional development programs across Australia and internationally, working with partners to deliver schools industry programs, creating curriculum-aligned challenge courses, lesson plans and teacher resources, guiding the development of the Makers Empire 3D design app and teacher dashboard and supporting schools, teachers and students for a successful experience.
Makers Empire’s learning team was led by our founding learning director, Mandi Dimitriadis, for around 10 years. She was instrumental in building our professional learning programs, designing our curriculum and teacher resources, managing the learning team, and working with partners to deliver research studies and school industry programs. Mandi has recently moved onto a senior position within the South Australian (SA) Department for Education where she will be working to implement the new strategy for public education in SA schools. We thank Mandi for her pioneering work and wish her all the best in her new role. They are lucky to have her!
At the same time, we are happy to announce that Sharon Morris, the second-in-charge of the learning team has now been promoted to Learning Director at Makers Empire. Her hard work and contributions to Makers Empire over the last two years made her the ideal person to lead the learning team. Congratulations to Sharon!
We are also delighted to welcome two new learning managers, Lee McNamara and Cameron Hocking. Both educators are very familiar with Makers Empire: Lee used Makers Empire at three different South Australian schools she taught at and also participated in the Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s Kids in Space program delivered by Makers Empire whilst Cameron had previously been working for Makers Empire in a consulting capacity creating in-app challenge courses. Lee and Cameron join existing learning team members supporting schools using Makers Empire: hardware expertise is provided by Luke Todd (né Henderson), challenge courses are built by Mel Harmer, and schools industry program coordination is provided by Tanya Giobbi.
Learn more about our learning team members below.
Sharon is a passionate educator with over 35 years of experience as a teacher, school leader, learning manager, curriculum developer and learning consultant. Her diverse career in education has included roles in a wide variety of schools settings, curriculum departments and cultural organisations. She is committed to supporting students to thrive as confident learners and compassionate, respectful people who think deeply, question ideas, try new things and know how to help make their world better.
Lee is an accomplished educator, specialising in Design and Digital Technologies, as well as coordinating STEM education in primary schools. She brings a wide range of experience, mentoring and training teachers to integrate STEM across the curriculum, both within schools and with pre-service teachers at universities.
Cameron has worked in a wide variety of educational settings including secondary schools, libraries & museums. He was also the Manager of Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria and has been lucky to work with so many incredibly talented educators who’ve shared their expertise with him. He has a passion for helping others to be creative when using technology, and this has included developing and delivering programs for teachers and students about 3D printing & design, video game coding, and digital art.
Luke began teaching himself CAD in high school, and then went straight into a career in IT after leaving school. He got involved with 3D printing and maker culture when he moved to Shenzhen, China, in 2013. Over seven years in Shenzhen, he encountered all aspects of the advanced manufacturing industry and became fluent in Mandarin. He started his own 3D printing business and worked for various tech startups with a maker/hobbyist focus. Luke has traveled the world giving workshops and visiting makerspaces. He is an advocate of STEM education and open-source technology.
Mel is an experienced educator having spent over three decades working in a range of roles and primary school settings across Australia. Mel is passionate about the role that technologies and real-life learning opportunities play in enhancing educational outcomes. In recent years she has turned her attention to educational film making.
Tanya is our hard-working Enterprise Schools Program Coordinator who liaises with teachers and support staff participating in our school industry programs. She also works part-time as a Medical Scientist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Haematology, Biochemistry and Transfusion.
Sharon Morris, Director of Learning, says, “the learning team are excited by the year ahead as we explore innovative ways to inspire creativity, problem-solving and design thinking in children and young people across the globe.”
“We aim to build on our successes by engaging teachers and young people in helping us to shape the development of future resources, programs and partnerships. We can’t wait to connect with you!” she added.
