Manufacturing Makerspaces Kids gather to make Lego robots; teens create digital music, movies, and games with computers and mixers; and students engineer new projects while adults create prototypes for small business products with laser cutters and 3D printers. Many libraries across the US have developed makerspaces—places to create, build, and craft—and they are experiencing increased visits and demand as a result. For public libraries, they are places to promote community engagement. For academic libraries, they are places where students and faculty feel welcome to do classwork and research. Fundamentally, makerspaces are a technological leap past library knitting and quilting circles, where patrons and experts have often come together to learn new techniques and train others in a skill. The ALA 2012 Virtual Conference featured two well-attended makerspace sessions. Three Makerspace Models That Work By Travis Good Tools in a library makerspace range from electronics to digital media, 3D printing, and more. 1.
Dissecting the Un-Makerspace: Recycled Learning It starts with a twist, a squeak, and a cheer. Watch out, 1980s cassette player, broken computer mouse, old monitor -- my fifth graders and I are looking for you! Your future doesn't hold a dumpster in it, at least not yet. Making vs. Before we start taking apart the un-makerspace, we need to look at the maker movement. Evan's catapult with cardboard, popsicle sticks, and rubber bands. Photo credit: Scott Bedley So the making led me to "un-making." Why did that little wheel spin when I pushed the play button on that cassette player? My students will have a space to dissect all the discarded and unwanted items and to ask those questions. Making an Un-Makerspace in 7 Easy Steps How can you create an un-makerspace in your class? 1. It can be old stereos, discarded computers, or even VHS machines, but whether it is small or large, your students will learn. 2. Send out a request to your families and others in the community who may want to help. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
A Thematic Approach to Planning Your Maker Space When schools talk about the Maker Movement and creating maker spaces, they often focus their initial thinking on purchasing the tools and materials. This resource-driven approach can create a buzz in your school for some time; however, that excitement will inevitably fade. While resources are an important part of any maker space, taking a thematic planning approach is much more effective. No two maker spaces are alike or should be alike. Developing appropriate and relevant themes for your space will ensure that your maker space is unique to the needs, wants, and interests of your students, and unique to your school community as well. While maker spaces often have a STEM orientation, they most certainly do not have to be limited to just those disciplines. To select themes for your maker space, it is important first to understand your learners. The next thing you should do is take time to evaluate the programs, offerings, and curricula within your school.
9 Maker Projects for Beginner Maker Ed Teachers - Blog Maker education (often referred to as “Maker Ed”) is a new school of educational thought that focuses on delivering constructivist, project-based learning curriculum and instructional units to students. Maker education spaces can be as large as full high school workshops with high-tech tools, or as small and low-tech as one corner of an elementary classroom. A makerspace isn't just about the tools and equipment, but the sort of learning experience the space provides to students who are making projects. Maker Ed places a premium on the balance between exploration and execution. Maker education provides space for real-life collaboration, integration across multiple disciplines, and iteration—the opportunity to fail, rework a project and find success. Smaller Scale Maker Education Projects Do you want to get into Making and Maker Ed but don’t know where to start? Towers of Power Catapults Materials:Mouse trapsWood stirring sticksErasersWood blocksPing-pong ballsHot glue Bridge to Nowhere
How the Maker Movement Is Moving Into Classrooms In 1972, Seymour Papert predicted what many complain is the state of today's apps and programs for modern students: [T]he same old teaching becomes incredibly more expensive and biased toward its dumbest parts, namely the kind of rote learning in which measurable results can be obtained by treating the children like pigeons in a Skinner box. Indeed, many of us go on first our first techno-rush as kids playing with erector sets, Legos, and the Radio Shack electronic kits. In a day when everyone thinks, "There's an app for that," many educators believe that we're missing the point of technology if we think its best use is programming kids to memorize math facts. Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager write, in Invent to Learn, a book that some call the "Maker in Education bible": Maker classrooms are active classrooms. A new generation of inventors is surfing the tide of the Maker movement. Society's Move Toward Making Here's a quick overview of history and terminologies. Make Magazine Maker Faires
STEAM Project Recipes: Insta-Robots and Sewing Art All photos courtesy of Todd Burleson Two STEAM project recipes from Todd Burleson, SLJ’s 2016 School Librarian of the Year and participant in Library Journal and SLJ’s four-week Maker Workshop, starting January 31. Insta-Robot Fun mini robot figures. Ingredients A variety of small wooden shapesVarious miscellaneous hardware (screws, nails, etc.)Hot glue gunHammerScrewdriverWashable paintPaint brushesVice or clampsHand drill Create Begin by having students brainstorm everything they know about robots. Survey the materials with students. Some guidelines: The robots should be between two and four inches tall. Once students have designed their robot, they should paint all the parts. Next, students should attach the wooden parts with hot glue and use the various pieces of hardware to create the face, arms, etc. Extensions Super Simple Sewing Art Abstract or geometric designs created with a sewing machine. Sewing Machine (I recommend the Janome 3128. Prepare Trim off the excess fabric. Extensions
Starting a School Makerspace from Scratch With the National Week of Making behind us, you might be ready to start a makerspace in your school -- but not know where to start. Will purchasing a costly 3D printer and the latest robotics kit ensure learning and maker success? What are some steps to starting a successful makerspace from scratch? Step 1: Immerse Yourself in Maker Education Before you can build your own community of makers, you need to join one! Start of newsletter promotion. Subscribe to the Edutopia Weekly newsletter—full of innovative teaching and learning strategies that will work with your students. Subscribe now End of newsletter promotion. Step 2: Get Others Involved Start a steering committee for your makerspace by involving interested teachers and students. If you can, reach out to the community and get parents and community members involved. Step 3: Purchasing Makerspace Resources Here are three guidelines: What purchases will give you the most bang for your buck? Step 4: Building a Community of Makers
Maker Education - About Maker Education Setting Up Your Own MakerSpace Since you already know that you want to set up a MakerSpace you know that it is an area that provides hands-on, creative ways for students to design, experiment, and invent as they engage in science, engineering, and tinkering.” (definition from edutopia) Before I started making specific plans for a MakerSpace in my library, I started reading everything that I could get my hands on that would inform me about such a space. I read online, searched out other libraries, schools, classrooms, and communities that had MakerSpaces, hit the library and Amazon looking for books about MakerSpaces, visited several MakerSpaces in the area, read blogs about MakerSpaces, and followed makers on Twitter. Once you are informed, chat with your building leaders to share why your students need MakerSpace opportunities and the plan you have established to make it happen.
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. But what makes a makerspace? They promote learning through play and experimentation.They’re cross-disciplinary, with elements of art, science and craftsmanship.They offer tools and materials that encourage students to create rather than consume. Step 1: Secure some space. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Step 2: Put stuff in it.
What Is Letterboxing? Treasure hunting has always held an almost mystic allure, whether you're Lara Croft or Captain Jack Sparrow or, you know, somebody real. Like Samurai Kitty. The treasure part of treasure hunting is only part of it, of course, and maybe the smaller bit at that. In treasure hunting, as it is with travel and maybe with serial dating, the search is often more rewarding than the payoff. It's also true with letterboxing, a kind of souped-up scavenger hunt. Well, it's not about the treasure, remember? "I can't tell you how many times I've said the words, 'I never knew this place was here!' "Letterboxing is how I learned about Rhododendron State Park, with a forest of wild rhododendron that bloom furiously in July every year. Readying for your letterbox hunt Getting started in letterboxing is easy enough. The clues to finding boxes aren't so much clues as they are directions. The journey's the thing When she emerged from the woods, the sandbar was gone, lost to a high tide. The big payoff
The Role Making Can Play in Education and Future Work – Classroom Aid “American kids should be building rockets and robots, not taking standardized tests.” — By Dale Dougherty Learning by Making In this post “Learning by Making” published on Slate Magazine site, Dale elaborated: “Learning by doing” was the distillation of the learning philosophy of John Dewey. He wrote: “The school must represent present life—life as real and vital to the child as that which he carries on in the home, in the neighborhood, or on the playground.” He also wrote that “education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”Each year at Maker Faire in the Bay Area, we have an Education Day, when kids get to meet makers and see their creative projects. Document for the role making can play in education In January 2012, New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) hosted Design-Make-Play: Growing the Next Generation of Science Innovators. The following document has been produced 2012 report: “Design-Make-Play: Growing the Next Generation of Science Innovators” The Future of Work
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:
Knit 52 Kinds of Mushrooms in Glowing Colors Knitting and mushrooms isn't a combination that springs to mind instantly, but once you start to look at these creations you too will be hooked. Leigh Martin, an avid knitter from Oklahoma, set herself a challenge last year: knit a different fungi every week. It's a journey; not all of the mushrooms were found in situ, many she copied from images in books. But she has taken the time to examine the history, wool and colors used and her personal story of each one. This mushroom holds a special place in my heart. As Martin explains: Trees, nature, and fiber are my greatest loves. For the record, this one is Lactarius indigo, which is great mushroom for natural dyeing-- it exudes a dark blue milky substance when cut. These Parrot fungi are so cheery. These are rather dark and threatening... This one--the turkey tail fungus took several weeks to create due to the different shades and patterns on it. Some of these wonderful creations are available in the knitter's Etsy shop.