Open Exploration in a Makerspace: What it is and Why We Need It In a thriving makerspace, there is a balance. Design challenges allow students to work together on a similar theme coming from a design prompt. The challenge creates constraints, but not necessarily structure. Workshops are focused more on learning a specific skill. Usually … Read more
It’s that time of year again – the first days of the school year will soon be upon us (and for some of you, it may already be here). Getting ready for the year means pre-planning meetings, making photocopies, arranging class schedules and all the other good stuff that comes in August and September every … Read more
The IDEAlab & Makerspace is my school’s space for creative exploration in our library. But not too long ago, the room was the librarian’s office and a storage space (it’s still my office too). Before I was hired in the summer of 2017, plans were in place to transform the room into a virtual reality … Read more
Why We Need Books in Makerspaces Books play an essential role in all makerspaces, whether they are in the library or not. Instructional books can support students in learning complex skills and tools. Project books can give ideas and inspiration for what to make next. Art books can provide visual inspiration. Professional development books can … Read more
Writing a post like this isn’t easy. I feel like I know in my heart what my philosophy on makerspaces is, but putting it into tangible statements seems harder. So I started thinking about this more as a manifesto – if I was to make a grand statement about what I feel the value of … Read more
3 Myths About Libraries, Makerspaces and Books Even though they’ve been around since 2013, school library makerspaces still have a lot of misunderstandings surrounding them. This confusion can come from administrators, teachers, students and the librarians themselves. Unfortunately, believing these myths can often cause decisions to be made about libraries that are detrimental to the … Read more
Frank Lloyd Wright, Blocks and Play (Post contains affiliate links.) On a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s home in Oak Park, Illinois, we enter a large room – a sort of study combined with library and a tall ceiling. This was a room for entertaining guests, the children, relaxing in the evening. There’s several built … Read more
*Page contains affiliate links. Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning Challenge Based Learning in Makerspaces: How to Use Design to Cultivate Creativity (Note: this presentation is a slightly updated version of Design Challenges in Makerspaces) Design challenges have the power to encourage creativity in your students – by providing limitations and guidelines, students … Read more
One thing my new school didn’t have when I started was a makerspace. We did have a newly created Virtual Reality Lab (with a 3D printer) in the library, but there had not been any maker culture in the library before. It’s been a traditional study hall environment, so I knew it would take some … Read more
*Page contains affiliate links. Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning Makerspaces and Libraries: Concurrent Session Version Makerspaces and the Maker Education movement are quickly taking hold of the library world. In this session, you can learn what the Maker Movement is and find some ways to get started bringing Science Technology Engineering … Read more