Thing 38 - Makerspaces

Thing 38: Makerspaces

When I first started to look at makerspaces, I realized that I have been doing many of the things that are considered makerspaces activities already such as Coding, Rainbow loom rubber bands, library clubs that construct dioramas, etc.

I did a lot of reading on them and explored some of the more recent technical gadgets that are considered part of makerspaces such as 3D printers, Code and Go mouse, Makey-Makey, Breakout EDU, and Little bits.

After reading many of the articles associated with this topic, I realized that makerspaces mean many different things to many people but basically they are any where that students can create. One difference that it took me awhile to understand is that it differs from regular craft projects because it is not about following a specific set of instructions to create a set product. It is about problem solving and using imagination (both of which are sorely lacking in many of our students.)

I have attended a couple of different professional developments on Makerspaces and learned different things at each one. Two were basically a demonstration of many different technological products which was very interesting but the latest one that I attended was very different and opened up a whole new avenue of possibilities.

The librarian that hosted it had many different examples many of which were not electronics. She showed us a “Clue” board game of the school that some students had created, she showed us tubs of Lego and Duplo blocks, she showed us QR codes that the students could use to get origami instructions and many other ideas.

One of the articles included a possible list of both technological ideas and non-technological makerspace ideas:

 

The librarian also provided us several examples of standards for makerspaces, which will be very helpful to justify the program to administration and to donors.

One of the articles also mentioned some of the skills a makerspace fosters:

My favorite part about the library in general is that we can foster projects that teachers used to be able to do before core curriculum and “teaching to the test.” The types of projects that are in the typical makerspace encourage real life learning and hands on ideas that the student can learn by doing.

The Rochester City School District has purchased several kits and equipment that the librarians can borrow including 3D printers, breakout EDU and books that explain how many of the technology works.

The School District also purchased some technical equipment for certain schools – including a green screen, microphones, tripods etc. (we have created some great videos) and we found a way to hang the screen from a tall book shelf where we can roll it up out of the way and down to use.

I decided to put together a Breakout Edu myself to have and it was so much fun for me and the students that I am going to do a donors choose for enough pieces to make two more. That way I can have the ability to create 3 sets at one time. I figure once the students are comfortable with how they work, I would love to have them create their own.

I also got a Littlebit set with scholastic dollars from a book fair and I have a Code and Go mouse.

My two challenges are that we are in a small building that has no space for an actual makerspace. Some of the articles that mentioned tubs as a means of storage seemed like a good solution. They also had a great list of possible maker tubs: https://sites.google.com/a/k12albemarle.org/baker-butler-library/maker-tubs

 The other challenge is finding time to have a “club.” I would love to do it after school but many students do not have a way to get home. I am working on finding a time in everyone’s schedule to do it in the afternoon.

The most recent ideas that I find really interesting is Makey-Makey https://www.makeymakey.com/

 

Another non-technological idea was weaving on a CD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xt5wQ5RCUw

The possibilities are endless!