ABSTRACT
This chapter turns to the pages of MAKE magazine for data on which to base first approximation of some core principles of the maker community. It draws upon the communities of practice framework, which asserts an understanding of learning as fundamentally tied to the social and cultural contexts in which it occurs and focuses on the 'practices' that define communities. Born from individual basement tinkerers and garage-mechanic hobbyists, the Maker Movement has evolved to support a strong community among makers. The growth of the international Maker Faires' annual showcases of makers' inventions and investigations have become celebrated meccas of maker culture, attracting hundreds of thousands of makers of all ages and interests. The field of education has embraced the Maker Movement as a potential context for innovative and more inclusive STEM education experiences. Educational platforms in high school tech labs, community makerspaces, and afterschool youth programs have been created to strengthen and associate the many individuals.
