Nettrice Gaskins
Assistant Director, Lesley STEAM Learning Lab at Lesley University
she, her, hers
“I believe an equity approach to STEAM learning will bring out the best in all students, especially those from underrepresented communities.”
Nettrice Gaskins co-leads a team exploring new opportunities for learning through engagement, embracing the “maker” way of knowing with students and community partners who play, tinker, design, and create. Her work emphasizes the validity of multiple ways of knowing, thinking and doing, especially in groups that, historically, have been marginalized or underrepresented, across disciplines. Nettrice’s first, full-length book titled Techno-Vernacular Creativity and Innovation (TVC) takes an equity-oriented approach to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) learning that engages students from underrepresented ethnic communities in culturally relevant and inclusive maker education. The book draws on real-world examples to show how TVC creates dynamic learning environments where diverse students feel that they belong. Nettrice works with teachers and students across the United States and internationally to demonstrate her model.
Vision: To broaden conceptions of what STEAM and maker education can be and, most importantly, create equity by making sure the work of groups that are largely underrepresented in these fields is seen and valued by dominant cultures and institutions.