Starting a Makerspace on a Budget? Here's The Equipment You'll Need
Advertisement Most of the things that involve computers are solitary endeavors. Writing. But the problem is, that’s not particularly healthy. People are social animals who crave interaction, and affirmation. What Is A Makerspace? Makerspaces – also known as ‘hackerspaces’ and ‘hack labs’ – exist to provide a common space (and often the raw materials) for members of the local maker community to work collaboratively on creative projects. Some even offer ‘hotdesking’, where freelancers and remote workers can informally hire a desk for a short period of time. There’s a plethora of reasons why someone might want to open their own makerspace. But it needn’t be expensive, either. 3D Printer Hardware startups are having somewhat of a renaissance right now, due to the fact it’s never been easier to build a physical product. The engine powering this process is the 3D printer which, once novel and eye-wateringly expensive, has became affordable. 3D printers are a must for any makerspace. Laser Cutter
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. Part of my talk will be leading the charge to say let’s build more makerspaces inside schools, libraries and even community centers.” But what makes a makerspace? Makerspaces can be elaborate learning spaces equipped with sophisticated tools and supplies, but they don’t have to be. Step 1: Secure some space.
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. Students don't want to use apps -- they want to make them. 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 Make Magazine
How to Use Recycled Tech Devices as Learning Tools
The idea of dissection in the classroom is nothing new. Science teachers have been delighting (and occasionally sickening) students for decades by giving them hands-on experience with organisms and tools. What is new, however, is the movement to create un-making spaces in the classroom. Giving kids access to old, broken-down electronics and a safe place to take them apart as they seek to answer why and how things work is an effective and environmentally-friendly teaching technique. Makerspaces and Un-Makerspaces In a recent (excellent) Edutopia article, fifth-grade teacher Scott Bedley describes how he created an un-makerspace. However, Bedley also spoke with the makers at the Bay Area Maker Faire and realized that many of them took things apart when they were kids, as he did. How to Create an Un-Makerspace Bedley shares the seven basic steps that he took to create his un-makerspace. How to Find Unwanted Electronics Incorporating Un-Making Into Your Lesson Plans Wrapping It Up
Maker Space In Education Series… 10 Sites To Start Making In The Classroom
Welcome back and I sure hope you enjoyed the last article of 20 Reasons for Maker Space in Education. I hope you enjoy this post as I highlight 10 sites to possible help you to get Making in the classroom… even if in the smallest way! I encourage you to send me information and resources you think help with this idea, as I am also Making time to learn. Booking Info – Time to think about your new school year needs. Makers Space Series Part 1: Maker Space In Education Series… 20 Reasons Your Students Should Be Making Part 2: Maker Space In Education Series… 10 Sites To Start Making In The Classroom Part 3: Maker Space In Education Series… 10 More Sites….Making With Technology Part 4: Maker Space In Education Series… Making It With Raspberry Pi Maker Space In Education Series… 10 Sites To Start Making In The Classroom – Michael Gorman ( I invite you to look for that one Maker Possibility that will allow your students to make while they learn. Like this:
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. Even though I have a MakerSpace up and successfully running, I am still seeking out any information I can that will improve my space for my students.
What’s in a MakerSpace?
By Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary S. Stager A well-equipped modern MakerSpace features flexible, computer-controlled manufacturing equipment for creating, cutting, and forming plastics, metal, plaster, and other common materials, including: 3D printers that are capable of producing three-dimensional objects. Cutting machines that cut a variety of materials with precision. The cutting element can be a laser, water jet, knife, or other material. Deciding what to focus on first may seem like a daunting task. There is no absolute shopping list of must haves. Get started, do something, and refine as you see what works in your classroom. Beyond the game-changing technologies, your makerspace should include a basic stock of supplies to keep your students challenged, inspired, and busy. Electronic parts and tools Computers, cameras, software Craft and art supplies Building materials and traditional tools Junk for recycling into new products Batteries A library
