JCDS Makerspace “HASADNA”
The Jewish Community Day School of Boston (JCDS) is a pluralistic Jewish day school in the Boston area welcoming children of families from all Jewish traditions and backgrounds. JCDS cultivates knowledgeable, passionate Jewish learners with the capacity and confidence to question, listen, understand, and change the world. JCDS nurtures each student’s capacity for intellectual discovery and decision-making while giving our graduates the ability to create their futures informed by Jewish values, texts and culture, and to make a difference in their communities and in the world. In this spirit they are embarking on a new initiative that will establish a “Makerspace or Hasadna (Workshop) at JCDS with a focus on the development of new mindsets and skill sets in the areas of computing, science and engineering. The initiative will also develop and support teacher capacity to deliver new Makerspace activities such as computer coding, engineering design, robotics and more in the classroom.
The JCDS Makerspace will feature a variety of computers, computer-aided machines, materials, high/low tech tools and other resources focused on developing a wide variety of knowledge and skills. Students will use computers for coding and design, including generating ideas, testing theories, collecting data, creating innovative artifacts and/or solving authentic problems. New applications and environments for using computers together with a variety of resources and tools can ensure students develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the world of tomorrow. Transferable skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, computational thinking, design, invention and problem solving will be developed through a variety of Makerspace project activities. In the JCDS Makerspace students will be able to pursue projects across a broad range of topics based on both curriculum-related and personal interests while developing transferable skills that will foster better understanding across the curriculum in Jewish studies, social studies, math, science, art, music and more. Through this initiative JCDS hopes to better prepare students to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future so that they too can become leaders of our 21st century technological society.
For more information Download a copy of the JCDS Makerspace Development Plan
JCDS Old Science Lab
HASADNA, Bench Tools and Computerized Machine Area:
Instructional Area and Student Workbenches:
HASADNA Badge Assessment:
Personalized Student Project Storage:
