Maker culture is going mainstream. The maker industry is projected to grow to more than $8 billion by 2020, and with the maker movement infiltrating classrooms, after-school clubs and homes, it’s no wonder.
But where is the maker movement strongest? A new report from robotics and open-source hardware provider DFRobot aims to find out by analyzing DIY-labeled products hosted on Kickstarter.
While maker culture originated with developers and engineers, there has been a recent shift toward maker projects for students. One school district in Pennsylvania, for example, partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to build maker spaces in its middle and high schools, encouraging students to use technology to design and build their own creations. The results of this learning model speak for themselves, with the district rising in state education rankings, as well as experiencing fewer high school dropout rates.
(Next page: How many projects are focused on the classroom?)
Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all) - Children learn best on paper: We need better technology, not less of it - July 13, 2026
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- Children learn best on paper: We need better technology, not less of it - July 13, 2026
- In districts, reaching readiness, retention, and success - March 5, 2026
- AI use is on the rise, but is guidance keeping pace? - January 2, 2026