CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation offers Chicago educators a shot at a $30,000 Makerspace for their classroom Application deadline is March 10, 2023
CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation offers Chicago educators a shot at a $30,000 Makerspace for their classroom
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— Creating classroom makerspaces is a rapidly growing trend in schools across the country. Chicago educators can win a $30,000 makerspace for their classroom in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition.
A makerspace is a designated area of a classroom where students can use various materials and tools to create something unique, often to solve a problem of some nature. Materials in the space can include everything from 3-D printers, electrical circuits and robotics components to cardboard, paper and glue.
The CIA sponsors the CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation competition to promote learning in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) fields. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) manages the program.
The competition will award one STEAM educator each in Chicago, Ill., Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City, Mo./Kan. with a makerspace loaded with materials worth $30,000.
Interested educators need to act fast! The deadline to apply is March 10, 2023. Winners will be notified in April and the items in the makerspace will be purchased and delivered to their classrooms for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
The CIA launched the Mission Possible program in 2021. That year, one teacher each in Baltimore, Md., Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., won $25,000 to transform their classrooms. In 2022, one teacher in each of those cities won $30,000 to create makerspaces in their classrooms.
To be eligible for CIA Mission Possible Makerspace Nation, educators must:
Educate 3rd through 12th grade students in a STEAM subject.
Work for a public school in Chicago, Ill., Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City, Mo./Kan.
Submit a three-to-four-minute video creatively illustrating the need for and possible uses of a makerspace in their classroom.
Deadline to apply is March 10, 2023.
A panel of educators and ORISE staff will determine the wining classroom for each city. Entries will be judged on how well they:
Demonstrate or explain the need for the makerspace.
Demonstrate or explain the possible use of materials in the makerspace.
Demonstrate overall creativity in the entry.
Provide an explanation of the teaching philosophy and/or approach that will be used to expand the STEAM learning experience and encourage students to pursue careers in STEAM fields.
Additional information, including the application and video submission portal can be found here: https://orise.orau.gov/cia-mission-possible/. Also, check out the CIA’s Spy Kids website https://www.cia.gov/spy-kids/ for cool facts about CIA that could be used in your classroom! For questions about CIA Mission Possible-Makerspace Nation, contact program staff at MissionPossible@orau.org.
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