A maker approach for the future of learning

Cross-disciplinarity and active learning have been recently recognized as fundamental educational tools to enable the understanding of our complex reality. For this reason, educational models are shifting from a traditional approach to an integrated one, where Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are merged with Arts (STEAM), cknowledging the fact that future citizens and workers will need not only technical skills, but also imagination, creativity, design and critical thinking. This paper describes an effort to design, develop and evaluate novel educational models based on the integration of ICT skills with the “makers” philosophy, both inside and outside the University of Trento. For this purpose, we have created two FabLabs, one static at University, the other on wheels called ApeLab. The goal is to activate informal learning processes, empowering our students through learning-by-doing methodologies, but also exploiting them to bring this educational models to the general public, fulfilling the “third-mission” of our university.