• We make learning

    FUN-CONVENTIONAL

    Makerspace consulting, speaking, and out-of-the-box curriculum design.

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    Wait, you own a bus?

    Five years ago we built Canada's first mobile makerspace. Since then we've reached more than 30,000 kids with our programming and have trained more than 2,000 teachers and educators in 21st Century learning techniques. From learning to code, to learning through arts and craft, we have experience in inspiring people to unleash their inner makers.

     

    Now we're travelling across the world sharing the lessons we've learned and our fun-conventional approach to the maker movement with educators, innovators, and makers.

  • Speaking

    Equal parts educational and unforgettable, members of the MakerBus team travel across the world speaking to educators about the maker movement.

     

    Watch MakerBus Co-Founder Ryan Hunt keynote the Big Sky Tech Summit and learn what we're all about.

     

    Consulting

    We work with schools, libraries, and community groups to help create custom-tailored curriculum, projects, and events.

     

    Watch a video exploring how we partnered with a literacy organization to develop an award-winning digital numeracy project using smart basketballs.

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    Grant Writing

    Our team has experience writing academic, government, and foundation grants to help make innovative ideas into reality.

     

    Let us help you find funding to make your next project a success.

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    Staff Training

    Using new technology is scary. Let our team of experienced educators work with your staff to integrate emerging tech into your organization.

     

    Small or large, we love planning staff training workshops.

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    Museum/Heritage Making

    We believe that "A" is one of the most important letters in STEAM. In addition to running the MakerBus, our team each has an expertise in the heritage sector.

     

    Let us help your heritage organization #MAKE the past come to life.

  • Meet our team of master maverick makers

    (And also people who love alliteration)

  • Our Team

    For five years the MakerBus team has worked collaboratively with partners across North America to build, creative, tinker, and get messy. Learn more about team of maverick makers.

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    Dr. Kimberley Martin

    Co-Founder and Chief Instigator

    In addition to co-founding the MakerBus, Kim researches the gender dynamics of contemporary makerspaces. Her research has taken her around North America, visiting makerspaces and interviewing their members.

     

    Kim has a PhD in Library and Information Sciences and has developed numerous maker education programs, consulted universities in the creation of their library makerspaces, and has trained thousands of teachers and educators in maker technologies.

     

    Follow Kim on Twitter.

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    Beth Compton P.h.D (ABD)

    Co-Founder and Head of Play

    In addition to co-founding the MakerBus, Beth is completing her PhD in Archaeology examining Indigenous perspectives on the 3D scanning and printing of cultural objects.

     

    Beth has an unparalleled knowledge of contemporary ethics and best practices regarding the 3D printing of heritage and cultural objects.

     

    Follow Beth on Twitter.

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    Ryan Hunt

    Co-Founder and Chief Fun Officer

    In addition to co-founding the MakerBus, Ryan has considerable experience working in the not-for-profit sector and has written more than $1,300,000 in successful grants. With experience in adult education, Ryan has helped develop dozens of maker movement education programs and training seminars, training more than one thousand educators in maker technologies.

     

    An award-winning public speaker, Ryan has also been invited to conferences across North America to discuss the maker movement.

     

    Follow Ryan on Twitter.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    What's it like owning a bus?

    What makes your approach "fun-coventional?"

    Community, creativity, and critical thinking are three key ingredients to successful makerspaces. We have travelled across North America meeting amazingly creative makers. Our approach to the maker movement is different because we believe that the foundation of any maker education should be critical engagement. We not just recycling the same old ideas (cough*spheros and 3Dprinters*cough); we're helping to create sustainable, critical engagement that explores both the theory and practice of making.

    Do you do school or library visits?

    For 4 years the MakerBus team worked with schools and libraries across Southern Ontario, reaching more than 30,000 children and youth. In 2017 our team decided to take the lessons we learned in Southern Ontario on the road, and to start working with educators across North America. While we no longer offer school and library programs with our MakerBus, we love to work with teachers and librarians, sharing our ideas to help create innovative new maker programs.

    Where are you located?

    We have presences in London, Ontario and Victoria, British Columbia, but are happy to work with educators and organizations anywhere in the world. From helping a school district in Montana to get their own maker bus off the ground, to travelling to conferences across the world, our team loves being mobile.

  • Our Blog

    From how-to's to hot-takes, our blog has something for every maker educator

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    THE ZERO SPHERO MAKERSPACE – HOW TO AVOID CREATING A MCMAKERSPACE

    Ideas for building a makerspace that stands out

    Let me make one thing clear – Spheros are cool. They have amazing potential to be used creatively by educators and can make STEM education more engaging for learners.

     

    Read more...

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    BUILDING A DIY SMARTPHONE HOLOGRAM PROJECT

    Is this project as cool as the internet makes it look?

    At the MakerBus we try to keep up with viral maker projects. Ideas, videos, and projects that promise mind-blowing results with simple household materials. In this on-going blog series we’re going to test different viral maker projects and share our results.

     

    Read more...

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    A LIST OF MOBILE MAKERSPACES IN CANADA

    Read the October 2018 update

    The other day we had a Skype conversation with two people in Israel who are considering building a mobile makerspace. They asked us if there were many mobile makerspaces in Canada and we realized that we didn’t actually know the answer.

     

    Read more...