MAKER CULTURE IN EDUCATION: INNOVATION, STUDENT PROTAGONISM AND INCLUSION IN ACTIVE LEARNING PROJECTS

Abstract

This research analyzes the Maker Culture as an innovative pedagogical approach, with an emphasis on the protagonism of students and the development of essential skills for the twenty-first century, such as creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. The goal is to explore how this methodology, which integrates technology, craftsmanship, and hands-on experimentation, can make learning more active, meaningful, and contextualized. Classified as bibliographic, this study examines the application of Maker Culture in the educational environment, highlighting its potentialities and challenges. Among the benefits are the incentive to students' autonomy and the development of the ability to solve real problems, while the challenges include the need for teacher training for effective implementation. As a practical example, the project "Flavors of the Earth and Rhythms of Africa: An Interdisciplinary Journey in Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture", carried out at the E.E. of Campo São José, integrates the principles of Active Learning and Maker Culture. In it, students were divided into groups to produce and sell food, develop promotional materials, organize an Afro parade and deepen their research on Afro-Brazilian history and culture. The culmination of the project, on Black Consciousness Day, highlighted the importance of innovative pedagogical practices that strengthen the connection between theory and practice, in addition to valuing cultural diversity. The results confirm that Maker Culture can transform education by aligning technological innovation and cultural inclusion, meeting the demands of contemporary learning.