EduMakers Summer Educators Institute
Today’s classrooms are being asked to do more than deliver content—they are being asked to build creativity, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and real-world relevance into everyday learning. The EduMakers Summer Educator Institute, hosted by the Design Innovation Initiative at Kent State University, is designed for K–12 educators who want practical, realistic ways to meet those expectations without overhauling their curriculum or adding more to their workload.
This immersive, hands-on professional development experience helps educators rethink how learning is designed and assessed by introducing challenge-based innovation, design thinking, and accessible maker tools as instructional strategies, not extras. Participants will explore how to replace traditional assignments—such as reports, essays, and presentations—with creative, standards-aligned alternatives that allow students to demonstrate understanding through making, designing, and iterating.
When: June 15-17, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Design Innovation Hub, 400 Janik Drive, Kent, OH 44242
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2026
What You'll Learn
Understand the principles of challenge-based innovation and student-centered design thinking.
Facilitate rapid ideation and prototyping activities that build creative confidence.
Apply 2D design, 3D printing, and AR/VR tools to classroom projects aligned with learning standards.
Collaborate within grade-level-based teams to design a complete instructional lesson with hands-on integration.
Present and reflect on developed curriculum to foster a sustainable innovation culture.
Register
The Program
Over three days, educators will work alongside peers in grade-level teams to experience these approaches firsthand, adapt them for their own classrooms, and leave with classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, and assessment ideas they can use immediately.
Day 1 – Challenge-Based Innovation & Design Thinking
9:00 – 9:30 | Welcome, Introductions, and Institute Overview
9:30 – 10:45 | What is Challenge-Based Innovation? Connecting Real-World Problems to Learning
10:45 – 12:00 | Design Thinking Foundations + Classroom Applications
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 2:30 | Hands-On Creative Prototyping: “Your Unique Utensil” Activity
2:30 – 3:30 | Lesson Project Kickoff – Grade Level Breakouts (K–5, 6–8, 9–12)
Day 2 – Maker Tools for Education
9:00 – 9:15 | Recap + Rotation Overview
9:15 – 10:30 | Cut, Create, Communicate: 2D Design as Alternative Assessment
10:30 – 10:45 | Break
10:45 – 12:00 | Make It, Print It, Test It: 3D Printing for Deeper Learning
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 2:15 | Unlocking Learning Dimensions: XR in the Classroom
2:15 – 3:30 | Lesson Integration Studio – Apply Tools to In-Progress Plans
Day 3 – Lesson Build Studio + Presentations
9:00 – 12:00 | Studio Work Time + Coaching Support
12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch (Included)
1:00 – 1:30 | Final Presentation Preparation
1:30 – 3:00 | Group Presentations (10 minutes per team + Q&A)
3:00 – 3:30 | Reflection, Certificates, and Next Steps
Price
Standard (K–12 educators): $400
KSU Education Students: $100
Bundle & Save: Register for EduMakers and add a 2026–2027 DI Educators Membership during checkout for just $100 more! That's a $150 savings off the regular combined pricing ($400 registration + $250 membership).
Contact hours are available to educators for participation in this program. More information will be provided at the event.
Design Innovation Educator Membership
Price: $250 per year
The DI Educator Membership is professional learning and innovation opportunity for regional K–12 educators and Kent State education students. Members gain access to the Design Innovation Hub at Kent State University (tools, spaces, community) during the academic year (August-May), monthly virtual Lunch & Learn sessions on collaborative innovation and classroom maker integration, free consultations related to classroom maker integration, and a growing online Canvas community featuring lesson ideas, discussions, and peer support. This membership is designed to empower teachers to creatively “hack the classroom” through human-centered design, design thinking, and hands-on prototyping so that they can become fearless educators capable of sparking student agency and problem-solving.
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