How Makers Empire Supports Special Needs Students

Finding effective EdTech tools to help special needs students succeed in learning can be challenging. Makers Empire is an evidence-based solution to help special needs students engage in learning alongside their classmates and improve learning outcomes and performance.

Impact on Learning Outcomes

91%

91% of special needs students displayed above average level of creativity and effort using Makers Empire

100%

100% of special needs students displayed significantly above average level of creativity and effort in their designs

82%

82% of special needs students displayed significantly above average level of achievement in the quality of their work

“For kids that have special needs or are on ILPs (Individual Learning Plans), Makers Empire is perfect for them. For kids who have learning disabilities or who are cognitively delayed, who are several years behind, it works really well for those kids, too… 3D printing allows kids to be so creative and to think outside the box. They get into that Growth Mindset – this is what they have to do but how they get there is completely up to them. And the kids love that. I can’t tell you the number of pictures I have of kids with their hands in the air and they’re like ‘yes! I did this!’. These are kids that are struggling learners and they’re having such success with 3D printing.”

Robin McGinnis

STEM Leader, Mount Health School District

How Schools Use Makers Empire to Support Special Needs Students

How A STEAM Teacher Is Transforming Learning in Her School District

Robin McGinnis is North/South/Jr. High Lead Teacher-STEAM for the Mount Healthy City School District. We caught up with Robin recently to learn how she’s using Makers Empire to teach STEM in the K-12 classroom.

How a School for Special Needs Students Uses Makers Empire

Jackson School in Melbourne provides an excellent specialised curriculum for 5-18YO students with special needs. We spoke with teachers at the school to learn how they use Makers Empire to improve learning outcomes.

How A STEM Teacher Levelled The Playing Field for His Students

This guest post is by Christopher Burdman, a Boston Public School teacher. Having taught both maths and science at elementary and middle school levels, he is currently the STEM teacher at the Tynan Elementary School.

How a Veteran Teacher Helps Special Needs Students Succeed

We recently spoke with Jane Edwards, a 30-year veteran teacher and tech enthusiast at two Catholic primary schools to learn how she helps the special needs students at her schools succeed with Makers Empire.

How a School for the Deaf & Blind Uses Makers Empire with Teenagers

Erin Barr is a teacher at the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind. We recently caught up with her to learn how she is using Makers Empire to teach Science, and how her students work together to overcome challenges.

Makers Empire a hit with special needs students at Fablab Shibuya, Tokyo

A group of Japanese school students with special needs recently trialled the new Japanese language version of Makers Empire’s 3D design and printing app at Fablab Shibuya in Tokyo and declared it a resounding hit.

My STEM class is a place where ALL students can participate and create. Makers Empire has helped level this playing field and create equality among my students.

Chris Burdman

STEM Teacher, Tynan Elementary School.

Differentiated Instruction for Special Needs Students

9 Ways Teachers Can Differentiate Design Tasks for Students

There are many strategies that teachers can use to support all students to be successful through differentiated instruction. Here are ways that teachers can use Makers Empire with a differentiated approach to meet the needs of all students including those with special needs.

How 3D design and 3D printing supports differentiated instruction

Great teachers know that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution that caters for the needs of all learners. These teachers are designers of differentiated learning experiences that build on what students bring and help them to achieve intentional learning outcomes.

How to Encourage Diversity, Empathy and Inclusion

Design thinking is a great way to help students develop empathy towards others. Here are sme our favourite learning experiences that are inclusive, human-centred, and encourage students to embrace diversity in their communities

“I can see its potential for unlocking that creative side and equalising learning for children with special needs. We’ve got a child in our Year 3 class who works at Foundation level with their special needs. They love Makers Empire and creating mazes. Some of it is a bit technical, but if you give this child a really structured, scaffolded direction, they can do anything. Their birdhouse was as good as, if not better than some of the other students.'”

Jane Edwards

STEM Leader and Classroom Teacher, St Thomas and St Patrick Schools