Situating Makerspaces in Schools - Hybrid Pedagogy America’s obsession with STEM is dangerous, Fareed Zakaria warns us, and our hunch is that most readers of Hybrid Pedagogy would tend to agree. We, Colin and Josh, certainly do. But the conversation that typically follows that headline rarely seems productive: a turf war for institutional priority and students’ time drawn on traditional disciplinary lines. Even when STEM advocates throw a bone to the value of creativity by adding “A” for Arts (making “STEAM”), the pendulum still swings, and the conversation never seems to advance. At the same time, “making” has turned into a “movement” and makerspaces are popping up in communities all around the US. Makerspaces don’t fit our traditional expectations of school, but here they come. Perhaps Zakaria has laid the groundwork for a cultural shift back towards the liberal arts, perhaps not. In our school community, we have situated learning through making by emphasizing an inclusive, values-based approach. Agency, authenticity, and audience
MLab in the Humanities » University of Victoria » About the MLab The Maker Lab in the Humanities (MLab) at the University of Victoria (UVic) opened our doors in September 2012 under the direction of Jentery Sayers (Assistant Professor, English; Faculty Member, CSPT). With research priority areas in physical computing, digital fabrication, and exhibits, the MLab intersects cultural criticism with experimental prototyping and electronics. As the Lab’s name suggests, our design is anchored in blending a humanities research lab with a collaborative makerspace—a design that affords our team of students and faculty opportunities to build projects through various modes of knowing by doing. About “Maker” and “Making” in the Humanities The MLab’s use of “maker” and “making” understands both words on a broad spectrum, to include writing and composition in addition to tinkering, coding, crafting, bending, sketching, prototyping, and fabricating (among many others). Territory, Acknowledgements, and Support Website Maintenance, License, Copy, and Sitemap
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. 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 One could argue that the phenomenon of makerspaces has led to a revitalization and reimagining of libraries in a digital world.
About – Transformative Learning Technologies Lab Our mission is to radically change how children learn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in schools. Vision Our focus is on making STEM learning more connected to student’s intellectual passions and interests, to their culture, and to local knowledge about how to build and make things. We want students to learn science and engineering by creating inventions to solve real-world problems, and by designing scientific experiments to examine issues they care about. Innovation and collaborative problem-solving are core skills for the 21st century. Traditional education has not been optimal for teaching those skills. But perhaps counter-intuitively, we work to make school STEM more similar to the real science and engineering practiced by professionals. Approach However, what makes the TLTL unique is that we combine this vision with rigorous research and careful implementation in real school systems. Impact TLTL Firsts TLTL Statistics About Lab Director Paulo Blikstein
The Makings of Maker Spaces, Part 1: Space for Creation, Not Just Consumption Maker spaces in libraries are the latest step in the evolving debate over what public libraries’ core mission is or should be. From collecting in an era of scarce resources to curation in an era of overabundant ones, some libraries are moving to incorporate cocreation: providing the tools to help patrons produce their own works of art or information and sometimes also collecting the results to share with other members of the community. Maker spaces promote learning through play; have the potential to demystify science, math, technology, and engineering; and encourage women and underrepresented minorities to seek careers in those fields. They also tie in to the growing trend of indie artists in every medium—including books—who are bypassing traditional gatekeepers, taking advantage of new tools to produce professionally polished products, and going direct to the web to seek an audience. Libraries around the United States offer tools for patrons to learn by doingBy Lauren Britton R.
25 Digital makerspace ideas | makerspace, makerspace library, makerspace elementary Pinterest Today Watch Explore When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Digital makerspace 25 Pins 3y Collection by Kimberly Sellers Jennifer Williams and Michael Sellers Similar ideas popular now Coding For Kids Education What Is A Makerspace Makerspace Elementary Makerspace Activities Makerspace Projects Makerspace Library Library Activities Steam Activities Enrichment Activities Arduino Projects What is a Makerspace? Makerspace Elementary Library Life Science Lessons Teacher Librarian Teacher Tools Steam Teacher Teacher Pd Teacher Resources Cult Of Pedagogy What Is the Point of a Makerspace? Open colleengraves.org Elementary Library Elementary Schools Makerspace Design Stem Activities Makerspace Resources and Programming ideas | Create, Collaborate, Innovate Quilt Patterns Knitting Patterns Crochet Patterns Sewing Projects Projects To Try Art Projects Crochet Projects Free Pattern Homemade Makerspace | attempts at using tech effectively in education Simple Arduino Projects Scott
School Libraries and Makerspaces: Can They Coexist? More and more schools are coming to value maker education and exploring ways to create makerspaces in their schools. Many schools are discussing how they might utilize their library to facilitate this. As my school has increased our commitment to constructionist learning and maker education over the last few years, we have done so in close collaboration with our school library. In exploring the relationship between the school library and school makerspace, it's not difficult to see why conversations about the growth of makerspaces are often tied to the conversation about the future of libraries. Both makerspaces and libraries are constructivist learning spaces that share a number of common goals, while approaching them in different ways and through very different material resources. Similar Yet Distinct Makerspaces and libraries are sites of informal learning. Libraries and makerspaces are inherently interdisciplinary spaces. Makerspaces and libraries are more than just resource closets.
What is a Makerspace? Is it a Hackerspace or a Makerspace? Get The FREE Makerspace Materials Supply List (PDF) A makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools. These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and have a variety of maker equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, cnc machines, soldering irons and even sewing machines. A makerspace however doesn’t need to include all of these machines or even any of them to be considered a makerspace. If you have cardboard, legos and art supplies you’re in business. Now that you have the birdseye view of a makerspace, lets dig a little deeper. Makerspaces have been called everything from a FabLab to a Techshop to a hackerspace. To start with, a FabLab and Techshop are trademarked names for a particular type of makerspace. Techshop is a chain of for-profit makerspaces that was started in 2006 in CA.
Creating School Library Makerspaces While there is no clear, single definition to the term makerspaces (Burke, 2013; Fontichiaro, as cited in Bell, 2015), there are commonalities existing in terms of features, functions, goals and activities that makerspaces provide. A makerspace is a place where people gather as communities to be innovative, create and collaborate, to share knowledge, tools and resources (Britton, 2012). Makerspaces have transpired from the maker movement which has been popularised by Make magazine and Maker Faire founder Dale Dougherty. These creative spaces emphasise the ‘do-it-yourself’ philosophy while promoting a richer engagement and curiosity within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) disciplines (Dougherty, 2013) and encourages students to pursue careers in these fields, but also to create their own jobs and industries (Peppler and Bender, 2013) that may not exist yet in a rapidly changing information and technological world.
Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects Makerspaces in the Media Center For most people when they hear the words location, location, location they think real estate. I think of school library media centers. In almost all schools the media center occupies the largest amount of real estate on the campus. It Starts With the Look and Feel of the Space Today’s patrons are looking for a space that is inviting, contemporary, and comfortable. Design With Your Product in Mind What is your product? Create a Makerspace Librarians are the leaders in exploring and trying out the latest trends in digital tools, resources, and training. Photo via Flickr Creative Commons by informatique. Makerspaces need to be created around several key concepts. Originally an avenue for promoting and providing STEM activities, makerspaces have helped to draw attention to the creative side of the student population. In Short Media centers today have a lot to offer in terms of space, products, services, activities, and value.
Science Projects for Kids - TinkerLab If you’re looking for science projects for kids, I have a mega list for you that’s 100% kid-tested. Note: This post contains affiliate links My children and I have worked our way through a LOT of science projects over the past few years, so I compiled them into one easy-to-find spot. If you’d like more ideas like this, you’ll love my best-selling book, TinkerLab: A Hands-on Guide for Little Inventors. Most of these science projects and experiments will be engaging for children ages 3 and up, although I did MANY of them with my 2-year olds. Enjoy! Science Projects for Kids These projects fall into five categories: PhysicsChemistryEngineeringTechnologyBiologyGeology Physics How to Make Popcorn on a Cob Magical Plastic Bag Experiment: Learn about the magic of polymers as you poke pencils through a water-filled bag…and notice that not a drop of water leaks through the holes! Floating Egg Experiment Magnet Magic: Move Paper Clips through Water with Magnets Is it Magnetic? Chemistry Soap Making with Kids