Engineering is one avenue through which visual artist and educator Paula Frisch is teaching students to explore their creativity.
Paula, who is the Associate Director of New York-based Dazzling Discoveries STEM Education Center, is the co-creator of their Engineering with Paper curriculum. (She’s also a highly gifted mixed-media artist whose work explores our cultures and current issues through textiles, paper and printing.)
With Engineering with Paper, Paula guides STEM students through an “alphabet“ of shapes–which they can then use to create anything they like.
AND–she’s going to be teaching a workshop on Saturday, September 23rd, during the 2023 Make: Education Forum–a two-day all-virtual event by, and for, maker educators! (Here’s the link to register!)
Paula talked about her career, shared the story of the Engineering with Paper initiative and gave a preview of what’s next!
On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:
- How Paula’s creative journey began;
- A very fun maker project she created, along the way!;
- How she first came to realize the connection between engineering and art;
- The story of the Engineering with Paper initiative at Dazzling Discoveries;
- Why paper is an especially good material for maker use;
- One main challenge to creating new projects for the Engineering with Paper curriculum;
- The difference between engineering and art;
- How her work teaching students to construct new projects has contributed to her growth as an artist;
- A free resource for educators!;
- A new and intriguing project currently in the works;
- A preview of Paula’s September 23rd workshop;
- What’s next, for new projects, STEM activities and the coming semester.