Create a school makerspace in 3 simple steps
As maker education gains steam, many educators are looking for ways to incorporate making and tinkering into their schools and classrooms — often on a shoestring budget. “Kids are saying they want to learn more about technology and science, but they also want to experience it creatively and use it personally,” said Dale Dougherty, founder of Make Media, which produces Maker Faire and Make Magazine. He’ll address how educators can deliver these types of experimental learning experiences during ISTE 2014’s EdTekTalks, a provocative series of mini-keynotes from thought leaders beyond the world of ed tech. “One of the ways we can do that is create more makerspaces for kids.
Elementary Library Makerspace Resources
Collaborative Resources created with Mrs. J in the Library Elementary Librarians to Follow STEM Facilitators in Elementary Amazing Professors Teaching Teachers/Librarians
Creating a School Library Makerspace: The Beginning of a Journey
Our library at Silver Creek High School in Longmont, CO is an active hub for extracurricular activities. We host an Anime Club, monthly Poetry Slams, and Book Buddies, but I felt like we could do more. I wanted something that I could tie to student learning which would promote inquiry, giving students opportunities to solve problems and find answers to questions. My assistant and I began looking at innovative library programs and community partnerships.
Creating a Virtual Makerspace
Growing up, my dad spent lots of time in the garage working on things — his 1972 Ford Pinto (understandably), my brother’s bikes, and making small items for our home. The garage was his makerspace and he used it to design, plan, and follow through on his creative ideas. Later, my brother used the garage as his makerspace. These days makerspaces are moving out of the garages of hobbyists to classrooms and schools for our students to engage in interactive experiences that spark imaginations. In a school, a makerspace is where students can create, explore, and invent using a variety of materials, resources, and tools including technology.
Makerspace Starter Kit
The hot new Makerspace Movement is NOT new to Murray Hill Middle School. Eighteen years ago we designed and opened the school with the idea that we would have creation labs in the Media Center, GT room, and the TV studio. We started with video production, iMovie, Specular LogoMotion, Hyperstudio, and animation with Hollyood High kids.
Baxter-Patrick James Island Makerspace and Creative Studio Procedures
Orientation and Training Sessions Before using the lab or studio, patrons must present a valid library card and complete an orientation overview of the digital facilities. Orientation is approximately 30 – 45 minutes, but times may vary depending on specific areas of interest. We understand that some patrons may have knowledge on many of the production tools or software applications available in our creation facilities. So that you may gain a full understanding of what is required or that we may better support your creative needs, an orientation is necessary before you begin using the studio or lab.
Want to Start a Makerspace at School? Tips to Get Started
As the Maker Movement starts to gain momentum, schools that are trying to find ways to foster the do-it-yourself environment can learn a few lessons from another nexus in the universe: public libraries. Dale Dougherty, founding editor and publisher of Make Magazine — and the de facto leader of the Maker Movement — has a vision to create a network of libraries, museums, and schools with what he calls “makerspaces” that draw on common resources and experts in each community. Libraries and museums, he said, are easier places to incorporate makerspaces than schools, because they have more space flexibility and they’re trying to attract teens with their programs. “Schools have already got the kids,” Dougherty noted wryly, at the recent American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.
Makerspace Activities for In-Person, Hybrid, and Virtual Learning
Exactly what school will look like in fall 2020 is still an unknown for many teachers out there, and planning for three very different scenarios is not going to be easy. Many of us were able to put together something on the fly to support our students in the spring of 2020, but how do we plan makerspace activities with the potential for multiple methods of teaching and learning this next school year? When it came to maker education this past spring, I was terrified about how I was going to incorporate making activities when my students were at home.
