Zach Snyder
Program Curator,
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Beyond the Tools: Building a Culture of Confident Creators
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 9:45AM–10:30AM CT | EDUCAUSE Commons, Enterprise Central, Poster Area
Session Type:
Poster Session
Delivery Format:
Poster
The Idea Garden at Indiana University is more than a makerspace—it’s a living, evolving model for how access to emerging technologies can foster collaboration, creativity, and community across disciplines. Designed to be welcoming to students, staff, and faculty alike, the Idea Garden blends the tools of innovation with a culture of support and exploration. This poster showcases how the Idea Garden uses Learn by Play pedagogy to remove the fear of failure, reduce barriers to entry, and promote confidence in those unfamiliar with advanced technologies. By focusing on how users interact with the space—not just what they build—the Idea Garden empowers its community to grow from passive consumers to active creators.