The educational landscape is in a continuous state of development as educators and admins work to keep up with recent developments in teaching and leadership techniques. Those who are new to the career or are looking to hone their existing skills as educational professionals often seek the insights of individuals who have vast experience in the field of education. These professionals can be a great resource for learning how to adapt instruction to the diverse needs of learners, constantly evolving ideas of best practices, and more.
Debra Mercora, of NJ a former school administrator and current reading specialist, holds vast experience helping students improve their learning outcomes. Through a variety of resources that detail the educational process, administration, leadership, and more, Debra aims to contribute to key conversations within her areas of expertise.
About Debra Mercora of NJ
Debra Mercora of NJ is a former school administrator with a history of strong academic leadership. Debra has experience kickstarting successful fund raising programs for districts, grant writing, and has maintained a dedication to providing accessible and equitable educational opportunities to students. Notably, Debra Mercora’s fund raising program in Neptune City is regarded as one of the most successful programs facilitated for The Jester & Pharley Fund, a nonprofit organization with the mission of empowering economically disadvantaged and ill children with literacy programs. Debra is currently a board-approved reading specialist who uses her background in education to help children improve vital literacy skills.
Those who have worked with Debra Mercora speak to how she is a professional who remains incredibly dedicated to students and improving learning outcomes. Colleagues frequently note her patience, empathy, and interest in learning more about her areas of expertise to further contribute to positive learning environments.
In Debra’s free time, she enjoys participating in a variety of activities within her community. For example, she is active in animal rescue and a member of the Elks Organization. Debra is also very active in the local Irish Dance community and frequently participates Irish heritage events.
Debra Mercora of NJ Explores the Benefits of Makerspaces in Elementary Schools
Makerspaces —designated areas within classrooms where students can tinker, create, solve problems, and build in a hands-on fashion — have been a hot topic within the educational space for years. Many educators have recognized the profound impact that these spaces provide students when they are integrated into classrooms and speak to reasons why they should be more widely implemented. As a specialist who upholds the importance of hands-on learning opportunities, Debra Mercora explores a few of the most cited reasons why makerspaces benefit learners.
Develops Problem-Solving Skills
One of the primary benefits of makerspaces is that they can help students forge problem-solving skills that will suit them in both their personal and educational pursuits. For example, students who are regularly involved in makerspaces quickly learn that there is often more than one way to solve a problem. Learners also gain experience finding solutions in a relatively low stakes environment. After all, sometimes the idea that sounds unrefined at first is an effective solution. Students may not get their inventions or creations to work as they planned the first time around, which empowers them to hone skills in discovering alternative routes to success.
Encourages Active Communication and Collaboration
In educational settings, students are often working on various projects within makerspaces at the same time. The nature of makerspaces encourages communication and collaboration between students as they can share ideas, watch, and learn from both their own projects and those of their classmates. The communication that makerspaces encourage naturally empowers students to develop innovative solutions to obstacles they may encounter while they create. The community-based aspects of makerspaces also play a role in helping students learn how to ask for help and work together in pursuit of a goal.
Promotes Creativity
A valuable aspect of hands-on learning opportunities is that they give students that ability to apply information that they have learned to the problem-solving process, an exercise in creativity. Students who are provided access to makerspaces often get a lot of practice harnessing their creativity to create fruitful projects and solutions to real life problems. This is because makerspaces promote creativity, imagination, and investigation through hands-on, innovative projects that may have many solutions. In many other learning opportunities, students are expected to treat what they have learned as fact. Makerspaces instead encourage students to remain inquisitive and find ways to apply their skills and knowledge to their projects.
Teaches Revision and Experimentation
In our everyday lives, we often need to revise our plans and experiment with solutions to achieve the best results possible. Makerspaces teach important skills in revision and experimentation by the simple fact that not all projects will be successful on the first try. Debra Mercora of NJ notes that the popular elementary makerspace activity, the marble maze, is a great example of how projects may require revision and experimentation along the way. Students have to experiment with ways to join various household items to create the maze while also testing it to ensure that it works as envisioned. Makerspaces provide the perfect opportunity for students to learn skills in analyzing what is working best and what needs improvement. This teaches crucial concepts such as listening to feedback, practicing perseverance, and learning to take an experimental approach to overcoming obstacles.
More from Debra Mercora
Debra Mercora recognizes that her experience as a school administrator and reading specialist places her in the unique position to help people who wish to learn more about her areas of expertise access key resources to develop their acumen. As a proponent of better education for all, Debra Mercora of NJ acknowledges that lack of accessibility to critical resources can act as a barrier to personal and professional development. To this point, through a collection of high-level resources that address key topics within the areas of education, administration, leadership, and reading, she hopes to inspire others to grow their understanding and motivate themselves and others to reach success.
Interested in learning more about education, reading, administration, and leadership from an expert such as Debra Mercora of NJ? Check this website frequently for more insights, updates, and key information from Debra.