MakerspacesA makerspace is an environment and learning space where students can come to experiment, create, and learn in a controlled setting. With ever increasing focus on STEAM, that is, science, technology, engineering, (art/design), and mathematics, in education, many schools are looking to convert the library space into a makerspace (Julian & Parrott, 2017). The case study below gives more insight into how a makerspace works and what it might look like.
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"The maker movement is about teaching and learning that is focused on student centered inquiry. This is not the project done at the end of a unit of learning, but the actual vehicle and purpose of the learning" (Roffey, Sverko, & Therien, 2016).
Makerspaces have as their goal the motivation of student learning using hands-on skills, as well as encouraging collaboration, higher order reasoning, and problem-solving skills, and the library is the ideal place for a makerspace to thrive, because they have traditionally been the centre of information and knowledge, and already strive to nurture critical thinking and learning (Julian & Parrott, 2017). |
"What is a makerspace?" (Goodin, 2013)
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These authors also describe some of the characteristics of an ideal makerspace. According to Julian & Parrott (2017), a makerspace should:
- Be inspiring - open, full of light, inviting, and well-stocked with a variety of tools, materials, and objects which encourage students to think "outside the box" (for example, previous student work on display)
- Be flexible and user-friendly - lots of space for creation to occur, furniture that can be easily arranged, access to electrical outlets, easily cleaned tables, and sinks for messy projects, as well as lots of seating and standing space for tools and underway projects
- Have clearly defined rules and policies, including safety and clean-up procedures
- Encourage students to solve authentic, ill-structured problems - ideally working to benefit their own community and promote social responsibility
- Supply a bridge between curriculum expectations and real-world applications - teachers as well as students should collaborate to utilize the makerspace for the most effective learning experiences
- Be reflective of the interests of the students who will be using the space - for example, rural vs. urban setting schools might have makerspaces of different focus and vision
"The learning process within the making environment is conveniently supported by local, state and national standards for inspiration, production, thinking, contributing and inquiry are met through makerspace activities" (Preddy, 2014; Julian & Parrott, 2017, p. 15).