Makerspace Resources All the Makerspace resources you could hope for (and more) I first started learning about the Maker Movement in education and makerspaces in late 2013. Since then, I’ve been using this page to compile and curate some of the best articles, videos, blogs, books and other resources that have helped me along the way. What is the Maker Movement? The Maker Movement has been around for a lot longer than many of us realize. Thinkers and Tinkers: The Maker Movement – Fantastic website that goes over the basics of what the Maker Movement is, how it started, and how it can fit in with your school.How the Maker Movement is Transforming Education – Great article from Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez about the basics of the Maker Movement and practical ways to bring it into your school. (Page contains affiliate links.
Transform Your Classroom into a Makerspace As finals approached this year, I had a desire to do something different. In the past I’ve had students write a timed five-paragraph argument essay about whether Montag, from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, is a conformist or nonconformist. My students had already written four essays this year, so I decided to ditch the essay. Instead, I had them select a metaphor from the novel and asked them to bring it to life creating a 3D visual metaphor. I was not prepared for the level of enthusiasm, excitement, and creativity that was generated by this assignment. When I introduced the final exam, I told my students I wanted to be BLOWN AWAY. My students entered the class eager to begin their work. Now that finals are over, I am more convinced than ever that teachers need to embrace unconventional forms of assessment. Teachers need to take time to transform their classrooms into makerspaces where kids are encouraged to create, invent and learn.
Creating a School Library Makerspace: The Beginning of a Journey | Tech Tidbits 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. Makerspaces are a natural evolution for libraries. No need to reinvent the wheel We have great models to guide us as we select the equipment to purchase and the procedures to follow. Where to get the money? There are several online fundraising sites to help raise funds for our venture, such as Kickstarter, GoFundMe.com, and adoptaclassroom.org. Next steps This week we will receive our first purchases. Embarking on this journey has been, and continues to be, an incredible learning experience for all involved. See also:
The LAUNCH Cycle: A Design Thinking Framework for K-12 Students - A.J. JULIANI Design thinking is a flexible framework for getting the most out of the creative process. It is used in the arts, in engineering, in the corporate world, and in social and civic spaces. You can use it in every subject with every age group. It works when creating digital content or when building things with duct tape and cardboard. Although there are many models for design thinking, we have developed the student-friendly LAUNCH Cycle. In the first phase, students look, listen, and learn. Sparked by curiosity, students move to the second phase, where they ask tons of questions. This leads to understanding the process or problem through an authentic research experience. Students apply that newly acquired knowledge to potential solutions. In this next phase, they create a prototype. Next, they begin to highlight what’s working and fix what’s failing. Then, when it’s done, it’s ready to launch. Get the Innovative Teaching Toolbox Awesome!
Mobile Maker Spaces The production cart includes a tripod with iPad Pro mount, a piano keyboard, professional lighting, mics, headphones, and various items to help students produce movies, videos, and podcasts. The concept was pretty straightforward, but the logistics were a bit complicated. We wanted to create four mobile maker space carts that could rotate among four middle school libraries in the Knox County School district of Knoxville, TN. It all started when our director of instructional technology, Theresa Nixon, encouraged us to apply for a TeacherPreneur Grant to fund a traveling maker space program. Our funding goal was approximately $50,000. Requesting this much money meant that we needed a an idea that dazzled. As we prepared the grant application, the librarians representing the middle schools (Farragut, Vine, Carter, and Karns) discussed rotating maker space carts that would dock in each library for nine weeks. What we bought and why Purchasing process; designing the docks up and running
You Don’t Need a Makerspace to Be a Maker – A.J. Juliani – Medium When I was in 3rd grade my best friend Mark and I built a treehouse out of wood scraps we found in the forest behind his house. We were makers. In 5th grade, our group of friends created a new sport with a Nerf football and a hula hoop at recess. In 9th grade, our band “The 25th Hour” recorded our first EP. In 11th grade, I took a programming class. When I first got my Macbook and Garageband came out I spent hours and weeks creating beats, mixing and matching songs together to play for friends. A few years ago during a snowstorm, all my siblings were stuck in our house. Making Can Happen Anywhere at Anytime In each one of these stories, I was exploring what I could design, build, and make. I love the concept of makerspaces. But I hope the message we are giving to our students is not one that they need a maker space in order to be a maker. Students can be makers in any classroom, any grade level, and in any subject. We Are All Makers Do you believe this about yourself?
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. Here's an example of an EARLY (2003) video production called Bookfellas, featuring some Guy Ritchie-esque film direction techniques. It's OK to Start Small! I re-purposed some of my empty study carrels for this Makerspace center at the top corner of our library. As I asserted in a recent blog post about new Ed Tech trends, fads, & tech -you can start small and You Don't Have to Marry It! For the Duct Tape Craft Cubby, I used a spring loaded curtain rod to hold the duct tape rolls, bought a bright blue colored shower caddy for the scissors and other tools. Amazon Delivers! Makey Makey Made Simple Simple:a Crowdsourced Google Doc Tutorial FUND Me!
6 Fun Ways Kids Can Join the Maker Movement Children are natural makers — give a kid a cardboard box, and she’ll transform it immediately into an oven, a spaceship, an elevator, or something else that I probably cannot imagine. Recent years have seen a growth of the maker movement, or an enthusiasm for inventing and creating new technologies and tools, in the U.S., Europe, and many countries across the world. Here is a look at the origins of the maker movement, how it fosters creativity, and some of the resources available to kids. How the Maker Movement Got Started The maker movement has its origins in the do-it-yourself (DIY) attitude. Makers are creating inventions that are advancing and celebrating many fields — science, technology, art, engineering, design, and music, among others. The Maker Faire brings the maker movement to life. Every year, Maker Media, publisher of Make: magazine, sponsors Maker Faire, a community event described as the Greatest Show and Tell on earth. How Being a Maker Benefits Kids Sources:
A Librarian's Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources "There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015." What is a makerspace? You’ve no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years. Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs, are collaborative spaces where people gather to get creative with DIY projects, invent new ones, and share ideas. Since the first official makerspace convened six years ago in a library in upstate New York, libraries have remained an ideal setting for makerspace events across the country. Many offer community resources like 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies, and more. There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015. Articles & Blog Posts on Makerspaces 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.) 8.) 9.) 12.) Maker Faire Makerspaces Directories 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) Revitalizing Community Spaces
Beginner’s Guide to Maker-ize An Elementary Classroom – HonorsGradU When most penny-pinching, time-crunched, and exhausted teachers hear about lofty ideas like the MakerSpace movement in education, they are likely to dismiss it as another passing and impractical fad. However, the more we investigate, the more convinced we are that there are practical–and profoundly meaningful–ways for teachers to implement its ideals, even in an elementary school classroom. Benefits of Maker Spaces “Makerspaces come in all shapes and sizes, but they all serve as a gathering point for tools, projects, mentors and expertise. A collection of tools does not define a Makerspace. They cultivate creativity. (Remember Caine’s Arcade? They provide an opportunity for students to take the lead. They make for a much more productive fast-finisher. They develop essential characteristics. They can “Create a physical laboratory for inquiry-based learning” MakerSpaces are designed to make students wonder, question, and experiment as they work to make sense of the world around them.
IFLA -- MakerSpaces: new tradition in context Generally, a MakerSpace is considered a place where informal, collaborative learning and discovery take place through hands on creation, via use of any combination of art and technology. MakerSpaces facilitate both analog (low-tech) and digital (high tech) creation. Teen library programming and services that include use of a MakerSpace or equipment associated with a MakerSpace provide 21st century skills that contribute to new forms of literacy which include exposure to various types of technology, problem solving and collaboration skills. Much of the literature on the maker movement offers practical guides for design and implementation of MakerSpaces, including tools, technology, projects, and kits, as well as advice for libraries in the beginning stages of planning the physical layout of a MakerSpace. Why do libraries have MakerSpaces for teens? What are libraries trying to achieve via MakerSpaces? Value added approach to technology through MakerSpaces user driven peer directed