Although hands-on learning has been around for decades, a lot of difference lies between being able to touch something and being able to create something. The latter allows students to practice skills in demand in the modern economy.
Teachers and schools are realizing they need to provide more experiential learning experiences for their 21st century students. One way is through learning environments called “makerspaces”.
TIME TO ENVISION: A makerspace can be as high-tech or low-tech as you like. The important part is to provide a safe, collaborative environment.
What is a makerspace?
A makerspace is an environment students use to collaborate and experiment freely. This space may look reminiscent of a NASA laboratory, with 3D printers, laser cutters, and soldering equipment. A makerspace can also be quite basic, using already-available school supplies such as cardboard, clothes pins, and art supplies. The goal is to allow students to explore the process of making something utilizing their creativity.
Why should you consider starting a makerspace?
Makerspaces are popular because they incubate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills, marketable proficiencies for students in the 21st century economy. Aside from STEM, makerspaces also tend to be areas for collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity – skills used by all students in the world of college and career.
What does a makerspace look like?
As mentioned, a makerspace can be as high-tech or low-tech as you like. The important part is to provide a safe, collaborative environment.
Furniture should be flexible and durable, with the ability to transition for various tasks. It should also allow for movement as students and the teacher demand. You’re also looking for durability, considering the nature of the makerspace movement (and the skills of the students). Because makerspaces provide students with a wealth of tools, any furnishings should allow for enhanced organization of a variety of objects. Hang tools from peg boards. If your makerspace is of the high-tech variety, furnishings should also provide plenty of options to power tools and devices. Many of our work benches feature outlets as standard equipment.
In many schools, media centers and tech savvy media specialists are leading the charge by facilitating problem-solving, design-thinking projects in varied dynamic makerspace centers within a media center. Areas of discovery may include robotics, iMovie making, gaming, circuitry, LEGOs, music production and construction while utilizing high tech tools such as 3D printers and graphic design programs.
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Possible makerspace ideas
The best makerspaces try not to pigeonhole themselves into one set of activities. A makerspace with just circuitry to play with is just an electrical engineering lab. Great makerspace projects are mashups from all the disciplines.
- Circuitry combined with paper can provide a new perspective on greeting cards or signs.
- Students do not necessarily need wood and strong cohesives to create buildings and bridges.
- Mouse traps, although risky for younger students, can be used for anything from robotics projects to catapults.
- Water – thought to be risky in a makerspace with circuitry and coding equipment – can still have a place to test floatable machines with the right furnishings and containers to keep everything safe.
Creativity is a key 21st century skill
The sky’s the limit, but the more varied materials you provide, the more the students’ imagination is unlocked. With imagination comes success in all the disciplines.
The best makerspaces try not to pigeonhole themselves into one set of activities. A makerspace with just circuitry to play with is just an electrical engineering lab. Great makerspace projects are mashups from all the disciplines.
This article is from our 2017 Projects by Design Idea Book.
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For assistance with makerspace layouts and design, visit www.ProjectsByDesign.com.To contact us, please call 800-305-0174 or email projectsbydesign@schoolspecialty.com.
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