Share your ideas at Iowa Maker Tweet-Ups all summer

Makers from across skills and interests participated in the first-ever Iowa Maker Tweet-Up on Tuesday night, sharing their favorite projects and DIY plans for the summer. Electronics enthusiasts, artists, sculptors, educators, the American Alliance of Museums (and more!) joined the conversation. We discussed everything from the Maker mindset as a whole to specific projects and individual A-ha! moments.

Here are a few of our favorite tweets from the inaugural #iamakerchat:

We kicked things off with a question… In 140 characters, tell us why you’re a Maker! Why is Making important to you?

I'm someone who wants to DIY and figure out how to fix and do on my own. Passionate about building that spirit in my students. #iamakerchat -@tcgrn, Teresa Green

Then the American Alliance of Museums joined the fun…

Thanks for the mention, @AAMers! What does Making mean to your organization? -@SCIOWA

Big question! Just based on the varied skills and interests of our staff, anything from a stage set to a new garden to a community. -@AAMers

Makers shared their latest projects!

What’s on your must-Make list for the summer? -@SCIOWA

My main focus this summer is marketing a circuit board I developed #iamakerchat -@MichaelELandon, Michael Landon

Art is making. It takes math, science, spacial skills, and creativity to create a pot out of clay. -@AmandaMBarr, Amanda Barr

We learned about the role of Making in the classroom, too.

Work as a K-5 tech teacher / librarian and making efforts to provide making opportunities for all my kiddos and not just a few. -@tcgrn, Teresa Green

We explored Makey Makeys, Squishy Circuits, LittleBits, and Modular Robotics as our 'jump in the water' experiences this year. -@tcgrn, Teresa Green

Participants shared why Making is important for Iowa.

Because if we do not encourage making today, we will have a lack of engineers tomorrow. If I can help, I'm all for it #iamakerchat-@MichaelELandon, Michael Landon

Don’t miss the next #iamakerchat

Missed the first Iowa Maker Tweet-Up? Join us every other Tuesday through August 11 from 7-8 pm, featuring a new focus each week! At our next #iamakerchat on Tuesday, June 16, we’re talking all things DIY and upcycling!

Break out your best Making advice from 7:00-8:00 pm on the following Tuesdays throughout the summer:

• June 16
• June 30
• July 14
• July 28
• August 11