Written by Cynthia Basham
Professional Development Specialist
Five Star Technology Solutions
On June 5th, I traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, from Cincinnati, OH, to lead a Makey Makey workshop for Santa Fe Public School digital leaders. If you aren’t familiar, Makey Makey is an invention kit designed to connect everyday objects to computer keys. I was first introduced to Makey Makey nearly a decade ago and have watched it grow into an amazing classroom tool that gives students all over the globe the opportunity to invent with intent and empathy. I was very excited as I had not previously been to New Mexico and truly enjoy facilitating the Makey Makey workshops.
When I arrived, I quickly learned that the Santa Fe airport is tiny. It reminded me of a small train station. Taxis in Santa Fe are almost non-existent, and Lyfts and Ubers are minimal, so my first task of getting to my hotel was made much easier with the airport signage to “call Bernard Transportation if you need a ride”. Thankfully, he was right outside! We chatted on the way to the hotel, and I learned that Bernard lived in Evansville, IN, for a few months several years back. What a small world!
After dropping off my things, I set out to see the sights. Thankfully, the hotel was right next to the plaza and within walking distance of several attractions and restaurants. The architecture was stunning, and I couldn’t have asked for better weather. I stopped by a local favorite, The Shed, for a late lunch. My fantastic waiter helped me navigate the menu to try the local cuisine without too much spice. It was delicious! I spent more time after lunch exploring the plaza and all it had to offer. There are tons of shops, boutiques, vendors, art, and more. After a bit of relaxing and a small dinner, I headed to bed to get some rest for my day of excitement to come.
On Tuesday, I headed to the Santa Fe Public Schools Technology building. My Lyft driver, Leonard, provided some brief local history along the way. He pointed out New Mexico's Roundhouse Capitol Building, the only statehouse in the country that is round. We discussed San Miguel, the oldest church in the United States, and The Oldest House, which is across the street from the church and is thought to date back to the 1800s. He shared that the local cuisine always has two options of red or green, referring to the chiles you want. Green is more chunky with the peppers chopped in it and red is more of a sauce. Some people like to order “Christmas,” which is both. He also informed me about stuffed sopapillas. I had only had sopapillas with honey before and did not know there was a stuffed option such as beans and/or meat.
Once I arrived at SFPS, I was greeted by an enthusiastic group of educators excited to learn about Makey Makey. I had a wonderful time working with these amazing teachers! It was easy to see they had the skill and desire to share this with their colleagues and help them implement Makey Makey in their classrooms. There was a mixture of user experience, and it was great to watch how the different groups worked to learn and create. During our invention time, teachers created an interactive Chromebook help poster, a device that teaches Chromebook shortcuts with jukebox-inspired music included, an assignment counter, and a teacher voice saver. I had a wonderful time leading this workshop and asked the group what other local food I should try for lunch. Their suggestion of Fusion Tacos was appreciated.
After a fun-filled day of Makey Makey, I returned to my hotel and ordered some local cuisine from Tomasita’s. I enjoyed a blue corn chicken enchilada that surprisingly came with a sopapilla the size of my hand. I also tried piñon cheesecake for the first time, all while taking in the scenic views from the rooftop.
The following day I headed back home, knowing I had shared how Makey Makey is such an incredible tool that can support STEM learning in the classroom and excite students to learn and practice empathy in a fun and exciting way. I know the educators I worked with will do an amazing job at supporting their teachers as they implement Makey Makey into their classrooms, and as a bonus, I came home with some great memories of a beautiful city.
If you'd like Five Star's Professional Development Specialists to bring Makey Makey to your district, fill out the interest form below, and one of our team members will be in touch!