AnnMarie Thomas

Brainstormer, Concerned citizen, Consultant, Designer, Educator/Teacher, Engineer, Idea generator, Inventor, Parent, Student

I am a professor of Engineering and Business at the University of St. Thomas, where I direct the Playful Learning Lab and co-direct the Center for Engineering Education. I am the co-lead (with Damian Kulash) of OK Go Sandbox (Www.OKGoSandbox.org), a collection of videos, lessons, challenges and interactive opportunities for linking the music videos of OK Go to k-12 classes and hands-on learning. (In 2021 we created six music videos involving nearly 15,000 people and 200+ from around the world to show that art, music and science can unite us even during a pandemic.) I am passionate about exploring ways to encourage children, of all ages, to embrace playful learning. This has led to developing new tools (Squishy Circuits), teaching at Art Center College of Design (while working on my PhD at Caltech), writing books (including "Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation), teaching classes (such as "Engineering Dynamics with Circus Laboratory"), working with non-profits (served as the founding Executive Director of the Maker Education Initiative), working with companies (such as Disney) and constantly questioning how we can empower ourselves and others to keep learning. I am also a student in the ASL/Deaf Culture certificate program at Gallaudet. The Playful Learning Lab and Metro Deaf School have been working together for nearly a decade on playful learning for Deaf and DeafBlind children.

Play, educaton, unusual collaborations

Education, at any level, for any age group, whether formal or informal, can be more engaging then a one-way-lecture.

Education, Engineering design, engineering education, K-12 Education, Play

I first went to TED in 2005, as a graduate student from Caltech and a faculty member from Art Center College of Design. I really had no idea what to expect, and will forever be grateful for the many people that I've met through TED.

Trapeze (flying and static)