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Resource Alert!
A primary goal of the Culture of Repair Project is to ensure that educators and repair advocates have access to resources and support to teach repair in a robust way. We’re excited to highlight cutting-edge resources for teaching repair in schools and beyond, and to report on grants we've made thus far this year!
Resource spotlight
“Make it Work!” - HOT OFF THE PRESS!
Repairing electronics and electrical devices extends their lifespan and contributes materially to a more sustainable future.
“Make It Work!” is an instructional pack that equips educators to teach youth about consumption, the circular economy and sustainable development; the role of repair in caring for resources; and the impact of the choices they make.
This is an excellent turnkey resource for teachers that links repair to the environment.
Developed in Belgium by Djapo and Sharepair, the teaching pack includes learning outcomes, materials required, planning support, lesson plans and activity pages, as well as background didactic materials.
"Make It Work!" is free to download. Also available in French and Dutch.
"Fixing Things for the Future"
The Rudolf Steiner School in Munich, Germany, published "Fixing Things for the Future" based on their student-run repair shop for 5th—11th graders. Centered on repairing objects, the program not only teaches diagnostic and hands-on skills, but also incorporates many aspects of repair relevant to students' development as healthy and responsible global citizens. The handbook includes the program’s pedagogical grounding, conceptual design and structure, along with a step-by-step outline for establishing a repair class, practical resources and more.
This resource will be published in Spanish soon!
"Cultivating a Repair Mindset"
Grounded in research and iterative classroom testing, Agency by Design Oakland and Maker Ed created a rich resource for teaching through repairing objects, in Oakland, California, USA. The Toolkit includes teaching strategies, tactics, classroom materials, and a pedagogical framework for bringing repair into the classroom.
Toolkit materials were designed to be integrated into existing classes across subject areas to help cultivate in students the insight, creativity, and motivation to contribute toward putting what we value into working order.
"Cultivating a Repair Mindset" is available to download for free, and in hardcopy at cost.
Introducing Culture of Repair Grantees
The mission of Repair PDX is to spread repair culture. They’ve found that one of the most effective ways to do this with youth is by their tinkering and repairing items alongside experienced repair folks.
The project we funded is to design a culturally inclusive repair curriculum that’s relevant and effective with students at an alternative high school in Portland. The approach is to build on current Repair PDX initiatives, bring students into the center of the development process, and collaborate closely with a community organization committed to repair, recycling and waste prevention. By working together to repair household items, the skills, curiosity, and love of repair is shared between youth and adults.
“We will center students in the design so that it meets their needs and learning styles. The purpose is more than just tinkering and repairing items — we plan to incorporate where materials come from, how electricity works, values behind repair, and the circular economy. In doing so, we will actively shift from a culture of consumption to one of repair and intentionality.”
Waste Loop's mission is to inspire and transform local waste streams into sustainable resources. Their Cascade Repairs Feasibility Project aims to develop a robust and sustainable school-based repair program in the small, rural Cascade School District. Market research, networking with school partners, and establishing relationships with community repair partners will form the groundwork for a pilot program.
"Students will learn tangible repair skills that can be put to use by helping community members fix their broken items. This training and hands-on service experience will also help students develop and practice problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. Integrating repair into education provides an opportunity for students to examine the concept of 'waste' and resources, and to grow a sustainability-focused mindset. Equipping the next generation with the mindset of waste reduction, the tangible skills of repair, and the life skills developed through problem-based learning will lead to a generation of young leaders ready to tackle the environmental problems of an increasingly complex world."
More Teaching Resources
Check out the Educator Resources on our website for mostly no-cost materials we’ve gathered from around the world, ranging from curriculum to lesson plans to teaching aids.
As summer approaches, we know educators are taking a much-needed break. We'll be back in August with more to share and a new grant opportunity for US nonprofits, so please stay in touch.
Let's fix the future together!
Vita
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