MLDT LAUNCHES AT IDEA FAB LABS
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (COE) proudly launched its Makerspace and Design Leadership Team (MDLT) in March with an kickoff event held at Idea Fab Labs Santa Cruz. This inspiring day brought together a dynamic group of educators committed to transforming learning through creativity, engineering, and student agency.
Formed through the Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP) Consortium Grant, the MDLT is a countywide cohort of high school educators who will lead the design and development of new makerspaces and support hands-on, interdisciplinary learning in the fields of engineering, robotics, and digital design.
Learning Through Making
Ten educators from San Lorenzo Valley High School, Coast Redwood Charter, and the COE’s Sequoia High School (Alternative Education) gathered for a day grounded in play, collaboration, and design thinking. The morning kicked off with the creation of custom 3D-printed name tags, followed by a hands-on design challenge inspired by the cardboard arcade movement.
Using only materials available in the Fab Lab, participants co-constructed interactive arcade game prototypes—from a coconut-themed version of ski ball (Island Hopper) to a handcrafted duck hunt game inspired by the Chico wetlands, complete with laser-cut trees. Other creations included collaborative puzzles and a foosball table, each infused with the unique personality and ingenuity of its makers.
Playful, Passion-Driven, and Purposeful
Throughout the day, the atmosphere buzzed with lofi music, the glow of lighted ceiling panels, and the sounds of cardboard being cut, glued, and tested. Educators described the experience as “learner-centered,” “student- and passion-driven,” and rooted in “tinkering, making, and doing.”
“I’ve found that when students work on projects that are meaningful to them, their engagement skyrockets,” one teacher reflected. “My job is really to get them the resources they need—and then step out of the way.”
The room felt alive with joyful experimentation and a shared belief that students thrive when given the space and tools to lead their own learning.
A Surprise Guest Joins the Fun
A highlight of the day came when Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah stopped by and jumped in to help test the arcade prototypes. He cheered on players at the Island Hopper station, using a ping-pong ball wrapped in brown pipe cleaners as a makeshift coconut, under palm trees made from laser-cut cardboard—bringing the full maker experience to life.
Building the Future—Together
Fueled by pizza, breakfast burritos, and a spirit of collaboration, the MDLT’s first meeting set the tone for a year of co-creation, community, and bold educational vision. Team members will continue meeting to help design makerspaces, select tools and technologies, and model instructional practices that center student agency and authentic learning as part of the larger WaveMakers Program hosted by the Santa Cruz COE.
This kickoff marks the beginning of a movement—one that celebrates making as a pathway to deeper learning and a brighter future for all students in Santa Cruz County.