What exactly is a makerspace?

Posted on by Muna Meyer

What exactly is a makerspace?

Simply put, a makerspace is a place where you can make things. It’s a place for hands-on learning with all the tools for creativity. Every school’s makerspace is different, but you might find a woodshop, 3D printing, audio-visual equipment, and hand tools.

What are the benefits of Makerspaces?

What are the Benefits of a Makerspace?

  • Providing the opportunity to innovate.
  • Creating real-world applications for classroom concepts.
  • Learning to take failure in stride.
  • Exposing students to new opportunities.
  • Building critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Developing a wide range of 21st century skills.

How do Makerspaces work?

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. They provide hands on learning, help with critical thinking skills and even boost self-confidence.

What is a maker school?

Maker education (a term coined by Dale Dougherty in 2013) closely associated with STEM learning, is an approach to problem-based and project-based learning that relies upon hands-on, often collaborative, learning experiences as a method for solving authentic problems.

Why do schools need a makerspace?

Makerspaces improve student agency. Students choose the supplies, the approach, the scaffolds, and the topics. As they move through the creative process, they learn how to monitor and adjust on their own. This helps boost student agency and self-regulation.

What is a makerspace teacher?

Makerspace teachers design driving questions for projects, which are intentionally broad so students can select from a wide array of projects to answer the driving questions (or create their own).

How do I start a makerspace?

Starting a School Makerspace from Scratch

  1. Step 1: Immerse Yourself in Maker Education.
  2. Step 2: Get Others Involved.
  3. Step 3: Purchasing Makerspace Resources.
  4. Step 4: Building a Community of Makers.
  5. Step 5: Hosting Workshops and/or Design Challenges.
  6. Step 6: Integrating Maker Education Into the Curriculum.

How do I use makerspace?

The STEAM + makerspace connection

  1. Step 1: Study up and network.
  2. Step 2: Bring the outside world in.
  3. Step 3: Turn any space into a makerspace and give time to explore.
  4. Step 4: Start a design challenge practice.
  5. Step 5: Get creative with the curriculum.