User Generated Education

Those who follow my blog know that I have jumped into and am loving the current emphasis on the Maker Movement and Maker Education.

As I was flying back from a recent conference, I noticed a film on the screen embedded in the plane seat in front of me. I was immediately intrigued by the animated film and watched the 10 minute short animation in awe of its brilliance. No sound was needed. Upon further research, I discovered it is called “Me + Her”, a Sundance-nominated short film set in a world made entirely out of cardboard.

It is one of those artistic pieces that I find so beautiful that I want to share it with everyone; have everyone view it. The proverbial sweet icing on the cake is that it is a perfect example of the maker movement.  Stonesifer, the cinematographer in an interview posted at Joseph Oxford and Bradley Stonesifer Create a World in Cardboard for Me + Her stated:

I think the biggest thing for me that I hope gets shared about the film is the do-it-yourself mentality and the number of people who got behind this project and did it out of kindness and love of film. We made a movie that is compelling and emotional out of cardboard. It’s exciting to think that anyone has the ability to make a project out of any medium, any material.

What a perfect model/statement of the maker movement. The Maker Movement takes on many forms. I plan to show it to my students in my maker education classes to show the potential of maker-related arts.

Here is the video – a perfect 11 minutes.

Here are some additional resources if you are interested in reading more about this project:

• Joseph Oxford and Bradley Stonesifer Create a World in Cardboard for Me + Her
• This Short Film Features A World Made Entirely Of Cardboard
• Cardboard Constructs Sundance-Nominated Short Film ‘Me + Her