Inside Make48 - Gregg Nowling's Unforgettable Experience
Introduction
Make48, a reality television competition launched in 2015 and seen on PBS and now the Roku Channel, gives makers a unique challenge: to create a new product within a limited time frame, addressing a specific design prompt. The competition has attracted the interest of seasoned and aspiring makers alike.
Today, we'd like to introduce Gregg Nowling, Season 5 champion and now a Tool Tech sponsored by 1st Maker Space during his experiences with Make48 Season 6 Nationals at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Innovation Studio.
Gregg's Background and Involvement with Make48
Gregg is a Design and Engineering teacher at Purdue Polytechnic High School, Englewood Campus, in Indianapolis, IN, and is the Makerspace Coordinator. This year's Make48 competition was Gregg's fourth, having won both the Indianapolis and Nationals during the competition's fifth season with his team, The Mallorys.
"After we won the local event and eventually the Season Five championship, I wanted to return to work as a tool tech because we would not have been successful without them. I wanted to pay it forward and spend time with my Make48 family," says Gregg.
Teams could not use the power tools during the competition, so Gregg ran the laser cutter. Gregg's involvement as a volunteer Tool Tech enables the competition to be more about the idea than the best woodworker, welder, or builder.
Gregg states, "Teams come with their ideas and rough drawings, and it's up to us to turn those ideas into reality. We even have CAD specialists on our team who sit and draw files. The beauty of this model is that it allows young people to be very competitive in this."
Gregg's transition from contestant to volunteer at Tool Tech demonstrates his dedication to the event and enthusiasm for nurturing creativity and innovation.
Gregg has represented 1st Maker Space throughout this year's competition and sincerely appreciated our sponsorship and support.
The Role and Support of 1st Maker Space
With financial support from 1st Maker Space, Gregg could take time off work, travel, and fully commit to participating in Make48 for this year's national competition.
Beyond that, his collaboration with 1st Maker Space spans several years and various educational institutions, where they've worked together in establishing and developing makerspaces.
"The only reason I know how to use it [the laser cutter] is that the 1st Maker Space team took the time to teach me and eventually help me acquire three machines for myself and my school. Because of that experience and training, I can help students bring ideas to reality daily, and that inspires them to do more. So much of what I do is because of the relationship with 1st Maker Space, to which I'm eternally grateful," states Gregg. Gregg is a 1st Maker Space Certified Maker Manager.
1st Maker Space is dedicated to creating dynamic, hands-on learning environments by designing and implementing makerspaces and STEM Labs, high-quality furniture, professional development, and STEM curriculum. Join us on our mission to inspire and nurture the next generation of innovators and makers, providing them with the essential tools and support to excel in STEM fields.
Make48's Impact on Education and Makerspaces
The intense competitive structure of Make48 nurtures a culture of innovation, providing contestants with opportunities to learn, expand, and develop solutions within a supportive community. Collaboration is the cornerstone of Make48's development process.
Gregg states, "You get in the trenches with these people and become friends and family quickly. One of my favorite friendships I've developed through this is a member of a team we competed against both in Indianapolis and Nationals. He's a remarkable young man, and I can't wait to see where life takes him."
Makerspaces and STEM Labs, as showcased by Make48, play a pivotal role in STEM education, inspiring the imagination of young minds and providing rich, project-based, hands-on learning environments.
Gregg's Valuable Insights, Memorable Experiences, and Lessons from Make48
Gregg shares numerous highlights and unforgettable moments from his Make48 journey, which include interacting with cherished mentors like Kevin O'Connor from This Old House, forging friendships with fellow inventors, and witnessing their creations come to life.
The competition drives home the importance of teamwork, communication, and leveraging diverse perspectives to find innovative solutions to daunting challenges.
Gregg provides valuable wisdom from participating in Make48: "Don't discount any of your ideas and get as much feedback as possible. Find out what other people like and dislike. It's easy to get too close to your brainchild or product idea that you lose objectivity, so involve other people. Also, you never know which idea will be best, so be open to them all."
This will help them find the most well-rounded, feasible solutions during the contest while working against the clock.
Make 48 has left an indelible mark on Gregg's views on the importance of collaborative and experience-based STEM learning, transforming his career and the lives of the students he influences.
The Extended Impact of Make48 on Education, Makerspaces, and Personal Development
Gregg's experiences in Make48 have contributed to his professional and personal growth. He's since taken on ambitious new projects, challenged himself in different areas, and expanded his horizons, all thanks to the relationships and support he encountered through Make 48.
Gregg states that "Make48 has helped me fine-tune how I teach the design and invention process. I can help kids think through an idea and whittle it down to one they want to explore, prototype, and pitch their final solution. It's also helped me be more creative in my shop by having access to other makers with skills I don't have. Everyone is encouraging, and I'm doing things I didn't think were possible before this experience."
Conclusion
Gregg remains dedicated to Make48 and aspires to share his knowledge, passion, and experience with future participants to develop the next generation of trailblazing thinkers and creators.
By championing makerspaces and experiential STEM education, we can look forward to a future driven by imaginative problem solvers, innovators, and a maker mindset that tackles challenges with hands-on solutions.