Professional Development

Meaningful support for educators.

A great space is only as effective as the people using it. We provide hands-on training and ongoing professional development to help educators make the most of their makerspaces—and create learning experiences students will remember.

Confidence

Educators gain skills, strategies, and support to lead engaging project-based learning.

Sustainability

Professional development ensures long-term success through ongoing support.

Maker Culture

Workshops foster collaboration and creativity that build thriving school maker communities.

Student Impact

Teacher growth translates into meaningful outcomes for students in every classroom.

Professional Development Offerings

Professional Development from 1st Maker Space is second to none. Our hands-on, experiential workshop and professional development experiences provide educators the foundation to lead STEM and Maker Education activities. All agendas for professional development sessions are customized to fit the needs of the client, and all planning sessions are included in the cost. A la carte professional development experiences are also available by request.

Incorporate maker education at your own pace.

Self-paced online course covering history, impacts, and types of maker education.

This flexible course lets educators integrate maker education on their timeline. It explores maker history, impacts, and project ideas while encouraging learner-directed approaches. Participants gain strategies for building curiosity and creativity into lessons, explore assessment options, and learn how to align projects with standards. Culminates in a Maker Mindset Certificate on Talent LMS, offering Professional Growth Points and lasting skills to bring back to the classroom.

Build maker leadership through immersive, in-person experiences.

Four-day, hands-on program focused on maker education, community, and certification.

A four-day in-person experience where educators explore the power of maker education while actively building projects. Participants learn best practices, strengthen technical and teaching skills, and engage in collaborative community building. The program emphasizes sustainability, helping educators not only start but also maintain vibrant makerspaces. Participants complete the experience with a Maker Manager Certification, 20 PGPoints, and practical strategies they can implement immediately to support students and colleagues alike.

Learn maker leadership skills on your own schedule.

Eight-hour, online course covering STEM practices, organization, and safety.

A flexible self-paced course that covers theory, safety, and best practices for running a makerspace. Participants receive a digital copy of Invent to Learn, STEM kits, and a Maker Manager Certification. Lessons include everything from effective organization and project planning to sustaining a culture of creativity. This course is ideal for busy educators who want accessible, practical training that balances theory with ready-to-use strategies, all while building confidence in leading hands-on learning experiences.

Explore STEM learning through hands-on professional development.

Up to six hours of in-person training with experiential activities.

This session equips up to 30 educators with practical, hands-on experiences that model STEM best practices. Participants explore lesson ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and discover how to engage students across a variety of subjects. The training emphasizes creativity, problem-solving, and cross-curricular connections while providing consumable materials to support real implementation. Led by our Education Services team, it builds teacher confidence, strengthens instruction, and encourages project-based teaching in classrooms of any size or level.

Convenient virtual training tailored to your school’s needs.

Two-hour live session via Zoom with custom agenda planning.

Schools collaborate with our Education Services team to design a virtual training session tailored to their goals. These two-hour experiences allow educators to explore specific topics, challenges, or new tools in a convenient, accessible format. With interactive discussion and examples, teachers leave with practical strategies they can apply right away. This format provides flexibility for schools looking to maximize professional growth without the need for travel, making it a cost-effective and impactful choice.

Quick, focused training for immediate classroom application.

On-site session with customized agenda topics developed with our team.

A concise, in-person PD experience that gives educators targeted support for their makerspace or classroom goals. Working side by side with our team, participants explore hands-on activities, troubleshoot challenges, and gain resources they can use immediately. These sessions are highly customizable and can address anything from lesson alignment to equipment use. By the end, teachers walk away with renewed energy, practical tools, and actionable next steps they can implement the very next day.

Scalable training packages to fit your school’s needs.

Blue and Silver packages offer increasing levels of training and support.

Our PD Packages make it simple to choose the right level of support for your educators. Each package includes immersive training, check-ins throughout the year, and consumables for participants. The Blue Package provides one day of training, virtual follow-up, and asynchronous course enrollments. The Silver Package expands to two days plus Maker Manager enrollment. These packages ensure sustainability, consistency, and long-term educator growth.

Rather talk about it? We’re here to help!

Related Resources:

Summer 2025 Free Professional Development

Join our free virtual summer PD workshops and explore fresh ways to integrate makerspace tools and STEM learning in your classroom.

Becoming a Maker Manager: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving Makerspace

Become a certified Maker Manager this summer with hands-on training, coaching, and strategies to build and sustain your makerspace.

How to Encourage Curiosity in Early Childhood Education

1st Maker Space has developed a series of lessons and support resources to make it easy for classroom teachers to add STEM.

What our partners are saying.

"The PD we received on the equipment and software we purchased was beneficial. I have nine years of experience running and operating a makerspace at the high school level, and I learned something new through every module."

PD Followup Survey Response
Indiana School District
"The 1st Makerspace Professional Development was fun, hands-on, and mind-stretching, with all the possibilities for implementing engineering and science activities into the makerspace curriculum and student sessions! The two-day PD was a huge confidence booster for anyone newcomer to the world of being a maker! Anyone can be a maker :)"

PD Followup Survey Response
Indiana Middle School
"Being a kid for the day was extra fun! I could visualize how much the kids would enjoy these stations and how the stations would develop genuine questions."

PD Followup Survey Response
Indiana Elementary School

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Get the training support your educators deserve.