Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem Learning in Makerspaces Workgroup

Posted by Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem on August 4, 2026

Join us this September for the inaugural meeting of the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem’s Learning in Makerspaces Workgroup. We are excited to launch this new community of practice, led by Trey Smith, a K–8 Digital Literacy Teacher at the School District of Philadelphia, Teacher Researcher, Teacher Educator, and Einstein Fellow.

Makerspaces are collaborative learning environments where people of all ages design, build, experiment, and solve problems using STEM and STEAM practices. While making has long taken place in workshops, studios, fabrication labs, and community spaces throughout Philadelphia, makerspaces have become an increasingly important part of K–12 education. In fact, every new School District of Philadelphia school constructed over the past five years includes one or more dedicated makerspaces.

The Learning in Makerspaces Workgroup will bring together school-based educators, out-of-school-time providers, and community partners to explore how we can expand access to meaningful STEM learning experiences for young people across Philadelphia. Each meeting will provide opportunities to connect, learn, and collaborate through community announcements, a featured speaker and facilitated discussion, and small-group conversations focused on real-world challenges and promising practices. Whether you’re just beginning to explore makerspaces or have years of experience, this workgroup is designed to support shared learning and collective problem-solving.

Our inaugural meeting will take place in September 2026, with the date determined based on participant availability. We anticipate offering the session in a hybrid format to make participation as accessible as possible. If you’d like to join the Workgroup, please fill out this interest form. If you have any questions, reach out to co-chair Trey Smith at johsmi@sas.upenn.edu.