Maker Spaces: Where Do We Begin?

This week, I am featuring Angela Watson’s blog, The Cornerstone for Teachers and her post titled Curious About Makerspaces? Here’s How to Get Started. I think that this blog is really helpful. Whether you’re currently a librarian, or not quite one yet but still thinking about the future, this would speak to you! So...what are makerspaces? I think this sums it up well: " Imagine some combination of a woodshop, a tailoring shop, a robotics lab, a kitchen, a media production suite, an art studio — then mash them together in a culture that celebrates creation of all kinds" (Angevine and Weisgrau, 2015).

We’ve all been there. 

Starting a maker space sounds like a great idea...it IS a great idea! Research proves it!

We think/say, "I would love that!" "How awesome!" "Yes!" "Let's do it!"  But then reality sets in…

"How in the world do I make this a reality?"

https://giphy.com/gifs/baby-confused-idk-CPskAi4C6WLHa/links

To really do it right, planning is involved, as well as getting buy-in from teachers and the community. This blog specifically focuses on what to do first. The topic of this blog is classroom makerspaces, but the same principles apply in a library. I like how this blog discusses how they provided task cards for the makerspaces. These projects were simple, but simultaneously allowed students to stretch their imaginations and do something more than just glue and tape paper and cardboard together. Although gluing and taping is absolutely creative, after a while this activity can get old and boring.

I like how it reminds us that the budget for a makerspace can be very low budget. For example household items can be use. Britton (2012) writes, "The beauty of the Maker movement, particularly in the library, is that there is no set list of equipment or programming required to make a space successful." This blog gave the following examples:

Egg cartons
Different types of tape (duct, masking, scotch, etc.)
Different size boxes
Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
Craft items (craft sticks, feathers, paper, pipe cleaners, etc.)


Another great point that would speak to most people toying with this idea..

"You do not want it to become a ‘Let’s Make a Mess and Walk Away’ center."

Exactly. Although creativity often equals a mess, there must be certain guidelines and rules in place.

Another great thing about this blog post is that it gives a To Do List for creating a Makerspace:


For example, here are the first 5.

1. Select an area
2. Gather storage containers
3. Send out a donation letter for items you would like. It even gives a link to suggested donation list of STEM Essentials.
4. Put donations away a soon as they come in.
5.Create a poster with rules for the Makerspace…. And many more....


References:

Angevine, C. and Weisgrau, J. (2015). Situating Makerspaces in Schools. Hybrid Pedagogy.

Retrieved from http://hybridpedagogy.org/situating-makerspaces-in-schools/


Britton, L. (2012). The Makings of Maker Spaces. Library Journal, 137(16), 20–23. Retrieved from https://login.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=82026024&site=ehost-live