MAKERSPACE
Rename yours to fit your school! Hacker dojo, fab lab, iStudio, co-laboratory, imaginarium, STEAM shop, idea hive, make tank, gizmo studio...
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Put your thinking cap on!
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Who is the client?
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If you build it,
they will come
Getting it started is the hardest part, but once you begin and have drawn in a few students you can add supplies and equipment, or clarify the intentions of the space. Maybe you begin with egg cartons and glue sticks, or maybe you start with laser cutters and soldering irons. The point is, you start.
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Your real challenge is to create a space where students feel safe to try and fail, and then try again.
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Rule of 2 - Students must ask two other students the question before asking a teacher.
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Clearly post rules of the space-is all material for school projects only? Does all materials have to stay in a specific place? What does a tidy space look like? Visuals are helpful here!
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Special considerations for powertools, and anything that must be used with caution (hot glue guns, spray paint)
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Feedback should be kind, helpful and honest.
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Will you be offering challenges to groups, classes or school wide? This may be a good way to kick off the opening of a makerspace.
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How can we better organize our school's lost and found​?
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Can you build a dancing robot?
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How would you design school lockers to make them more efficient uses of of space?
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What should our new school uniform look like?
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Tips
Creating a makerspace in your school does not have to be difficult or expensive. First, where will it be? A space in your classroom? Your school library? Will all students and teachers have access to it?
Consider your users. What would draw them into this space? An Epic Lego Wall? Access to art and craft supplies? A 3D printer? Computers and iPads? Be inclusive when you select the material. Offer access to coding programs and knitting looms. You want to encourage all students to be part of the space, not just your 'techies'.
Excellent Resources
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Renovated Learning-blog about one librarian's quest to create a makerspace, lots of great practical help to get started
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Agency by Design-"Investigating the promises, practices and pedagogies of maker centered learning"