Email
Password




Forgot your password?

This login is for educators who have purchased our Learning Program
Sign Up Teacher Log In

  • Teach Design Thinking with Makers Empire

Design Thinking Thought Leadership

Be inspired by our expert learning team as they share the latest on Design Thinking

  • 8 Ways Teachers and Students Can Benefit From Gamification in the Classroom

    Makers Empire 3D is not a video game. It’s specialised 3D modelling software carefully designed to help K-8 students develop Design Thinking skills in order to solve real-world problems. Our 3D design app and Learning by Design program were recently the subject of a 12-month Macquarie University study into primary schools makerspaces, so we are...

    READ MORE

  • What is Design Thinking? A Handy Guide for Teachers

    In this post, Mandi Dimitriadis, Director of Learning at Makers Empire, will help you understand more about Design Thinking. You’ll get to know what Design Thinking is, why Design Thinking is important, the phases of the Design Thinking process and how you might teach your students how to use Design Thinking to reframe problems and needs...

    READ MORE

  • The Power of Maker Pedagogy & 8 ways to Spot It and Embed It in the Classroom

    I am becoming increasingly convinced that maker pedagogy has the power to develop critical, creative and design thinking, and the creative confidence and self-belief our young people need to become innovators, problem-solvers and positive change makers. I can often be heard sprouting the virtues of constructionist learning theory. Occasionally, I am pulled up on this...

    READ MORE

  • New Makers Empire 13-Part 'Design Thinking' Professional Development Series for Teachers

    As part of the Makers Empire School Subscription, teachers gain access to an innovative, 13-part professional development (PD) video series in the Teacher's Dashboard. This series is designed to help teachers successfully teach Design Thinking, implement maker pedagogy and use 3D design and 3D printing an authentic teaching tool. This on-demand video series replaces Makers...

    READ MORE

  • 5 Ways Design & Technology Curricula are Changing and How Makers Empire Can Help

    We hear a lot of talk about what it's going to take for our young people to thrive and survive in their 21st-century futures. It's become almost cliched to talk about 21st-century skills but it is fair to say that many of today's school students will be working in jobs that don't yet exist and...

    READ MORE

  • 4 Reasons Why I Want My Kids to Be Design Thinkers (Not Just Happy)

    As a new mum, I remember gazing at my sleeping baby and silently vowing to protect, guide and love her. I remember thinking: I'm going to help you grow into the best version of yourself. Whatever you want to do, I'll help you get there. I just want you to be happy. I'm sure a...

    READ MORE

Lesson Plan Library with 130+ Lesson Plans

Aligned to Australian Common Core Standards, Australian Curriculum, Next Generation Science Standards

    • ENTREPRENEURS UNITED

    • Grade/s: 7, 8
    • Subject/s: Tech., Economics
    • Type: Lesson Plan

    Students investigate the attributes and skills of successful entrepeneurs. They use design thinking processes to plan an entrepeneurial venture and develop 3D printed prototypes of their ideas.

    • BUILDING RENOVATIONS

    • Grade/s: 7
    • Subject/s: Maths, Engineering
    • Type: Unit Plan

    Students design a 3D model of a house. They are then required to make renovations to their house design by making selected geometric changes to their houses.

    • DESIGN A PRODUCT

    • Grade/s: 6
    • Subject/s: Technologies
    • Type: Lesson Plan

    In this lesson, students will learn how to design, make and sell a 3D printed product. A great exercise for students to learn about product design, prototyping, entrepreneurship and marketing.

    • NATURAL DISASTERS

    • Grade/s: 6
    • Subject/s: Science, Technologies
    • Type: Lesson Plan

    Students identify and study problems caused by natural disasters. They devise solutions to these problems and then design and 3D print their practical remedies.

Learn more about the lesson plan library

School Case Studies

Discover how these teachers and students are using Makers Empire in the classroom

Design Thinking Competitions

Browse our past Design Thinking competitions and check out the winning entries

  • Winners of the The Great Ornament Tournament 3D Design Competition

    Every month, Makers Empire hosts an in-app 3D design competition giving students around the world the opportunity to test their Design Thinking skills against their peers. To coincide with the holiday season, in December, students were challenged to create an ornament to celebrate a holiday that was important to them using Makers Empire 3D software. Students from all...

    READ MORE

  • Winners of the Game On 3D Design Competition

    Every month, Makers Empire hosts an in-app 3D design competition giving students around the world the opportunity to test their Design Thinking skills against their peers. To coincide with international Monopoly Day, in November, students were challenged to create a Monopoly game piece using Makers Empire 3D software. Students from all over the world submitted almost 7,000 entries for...

    READ MORE

  • Winners of the Spooky Shadows 3D Design Competition

    Every month, Makers Empire hosts an in-app 3D design competition giving students around the world the opportunity to test their Design Thinking skills against their peers. In October, students were challenged to create a spooktacular shadow puppet design using Makers Empire 3D software. Students from all over the world submitted over 3,000 entries, which we...

    READ MORE