Makerspaces

Cynthia Curtis, NBCTHanes Magnet School

Winston-Salem, NC

What is a Makerspace?

“A makerspace is a community destination where students—sometimes alongside staff, parents, and mentors– can create, problem

solve, and develop skills, talents, thinking, and mental rigor” ~ Preddy

Why a Makerspace?

CollaborationCommunication

Information LiteracyMedia Literacy

CreativityTechnology Literacy

Flexibility

InitiativeSocial SkillsProductivityLeadership

Critical Thinking

21st Century Skills

Why a Makerspace in the Media Center?

• Standard 1: School Library Media Coordinators Demonstrate Leadership• Element a. School library media coordinators lead in the school library

media center and media program to support student success. School library media coordinators provide leadership for the school library media program. They share responsibility for the progress of all students to ensure that they graduate from high school, are globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and are prepared for life in the 21st Century. They collaboratively create, align, and implement a program informed by state and national guidelines and research-based best practices. They transform the library media center into a 21st Century learning environment (both virtual and physical) and a shared space for knowledge construction, collaboration and inquiry-based learning, and they assist teachers with similar transformations. They coordinate the activities and training of library media support personnel.

How to begin….

• Start simple:– Teacher/Parent/MC teach a craft or skill• Craft :Crocheting/knitting/cross-stitch• Using tools: screwdrivers (Phillips head vs. flat head),

hammers, drills

– Kits with instructions– Freestyle: what can you make out of this??– Take apart: Learning by un-doing

When?

• Before or after school• As an elective• Independently with a pass• During lunch• Saturday School

Where?

• Small Room• Table/Chairs• Storage (Plastic box or shelves)

Challenges

• Supplies– Funding: Grants, MC funds– Donations: Parents, Big Box stores, Teachers

• Resilience– Student frustration– Teacher frustration

• Time– When & How much??

Online Resources

• Instructables – http://www.instructables.com

• Upcycle Projects -- http://www.upcyclemagazine.com/category/projects

• SparkFun Electronics— http://www.sparkfun.com

Bibliography

• Preddy, Leslie. School Library Makerspaces: Grades 6-12. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2013. Print.

• NC Department Of Public Instruction Instructional Tech Division. "NC School Library Media Coordinator Standards." Professional Standards. NC Department of Public Instruction. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.