Making and Maker Spaces!
Makerspaces, sometimes also referred to as hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more
Techopedia defines the Maker Movement as: The maker movement is primarily the name given to the increasing number of people employing do-it-yourself (DIY) and do-it-with-others ( DIWO) techniques and processes to develop unique technology products. Generally, DIY and DIWO enables individuals to create sophisticated devices and gadgets, such as printers, robotics and electronic devices, using diagrammed, textual and or video demonstration.
Techopedia defines the Maker Movement as: The maker movement is primarily the name given to the increasing number of people employing do-it-yourself (DIY) and do-it-with-others ( DIWO) techniques and processes to develop unique technology products. Generally, DIY and DIWO enables individuals to create sophisticated devices and gadgets, such as printers, robotics and electronic devices, using diagrammed, textual and or video demonstration.
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Articles
"Why the Maker Movement Matters: Part I - The Tools Revolution, by James Fallows, in The Atlantic, June 5, 2016
"Why the Maker Movement Matters: Part 2 - Agility", by James Fallows, in The Atlantic, June 9, 2016
"The Maker Movement: If Hamilton Were Around, He Would be a Fan", by James Fallows, in The Atlantic, June 16, 2016
"Why the Maker Movement is Important to America's Future", by Tim Bajarin in TIME Magazine, May 19, 2014.
Glenn Robbins is the NASSP Digital Principal of the Year 2016 - here's an article about the AMAZING things they are doing at his school!
"Why the Maker Movement Matters: Part 2 - Agility", by James Fallows, in The Atlantic, June 9, 2016
"The Maker Movement: If Hamilton Were Around, He Would be a Fan", by James Fallows, in The Atlantic, June 16, 2016
"Why the Maker Movement is Important to America's Future", by Tim Bajarin in TIME Magazine, May 19, 2014.
Glenn Robbins is the NASSP Digital Principal of the Year 2016 - here's an article about the AMAZING things they are doing at his school!
- The school’s hallways have been converted to “Idea Streets,” an innovative learning initiative modeled on a similar program at Stanford University. The school’s Digital Shop thrives on design thinking and projects to better the lives of others, like designing 3D-printed prosthetic hands for children and creating video games from children’s books. Students also control their own learning pace on Northfield’s gamified learning management system that allows students to control their own pace and level of learning during the course and year. “Learning is a much more robust activity when students engage in real-world activities that serve a purpose,” Robbins says. “We firmly believe that by empowering students and staff to utilize technology each day, we are preparing them for their future, not ours.”
Resources
Makerspace Resources at RenovatedLearning.com - a fantastic web site including articles, blogs, project ideas, Twitter hashtags and chats, and much, much more! Every school should visit this great web site!
Makerspaces.com is loaded with ideas, examples, and free resources including a free eBook with 250+ MakerEd and Makerspace Resources.
Makerspaces.com is loaded with ideas, examples, and free resources including a free eBook with 250+ MakerEd and Makerspace Resources.
Expanding the Concept of "Making"
Although the most commonly accepted activities of maker spaces are focused on technology, tinkering, electronics and use of simple materials to create, I have thought of many other types of activities that I consider to be "making". The Maker Movement is based upon the work of Seymour Papert's theory of constructionism and is also related to constructivism, attributed mainly to Jean Piaget. Both emphasize learning by doing, or experiential learning.
To me this means that making is a process of learning through experiential, mainly hands-on, and kinesthetic experiences. Therefore, my preference is not to focus mainly on technologies, electronics and computers, but to expand making to other valuable activities. These would relate to a wider range of experiences in the spectrum of making and creativity. Many, if not all, of the following activities are also possibilities for careers!
Some define making as an activity which is done with other people, while others accept it as an individual pursuit as well.
Select any of the categories below, then brainstorm the connections to the disciplines, 21st century skills and the multiple literacies for the 21st century!
Question: How, when and where are we supposed to be able to implement these activities into our curriculum? We already have eight 45-minute class periods per day, and we have to spend every minute getting our students ready for the tests!
Answer: It is time to do some restructuring of time and space in schools! Learn why and how at: Restructuring for the 21st Century and see Daily Schedules for the 21st Century. Suggestions are being implemented in schools across the United States at this time - with great success!
To me this means that making is a process of learning through experiential, mainly hands-on, and kinesthetic experiences. Therefore, my preference is not to focus mainly on technologies, electronics and computers, but to expand making to other valuable activities. These would relate to a wider range of experiences in the spectrum of making and creativity. Many, if not all, of the following activities are also possibilities for careers!
Some define making as an activity which is done with other people, while others accept it as an individual pursuit as well.
Select any of the categories below, then brainstorm the connections to the disciplines, 21st century skills and the multiple literacies for the 21st century!
Question: How, when and where are we supposed to be able to implement these activities into our curriculum? We already have eight 45-minute class periods per day, and we have to spend every minute getting our students ready for the tests!
Answer: It is time to do some restructuring of time and space in schools! Learn why and how at: Restructuring for the 21st Century and see Daily Schedules for the 21st Century. Suggestions are being implemented in schools across the United States at this time - with great success!
Culinary Arts -students can make connections to the curriculum through the investigation of culinary arts through time and place - from careers to joyful hobbies.
Connections to the curriculum - Art, History, Nutrition, Math, Language Arts, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Cultural Studies, Hospitality Industries, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Marketing, Business Development, Photography, Media Production (cooking shows to cook books), Literature, and of course, the joy of cooking!
21st century skills - creative thinking, curiosity and imagination, collaboration, agility and adaptability, accessing and analyzing knowledge, effective oral and written communication, problem solving, critical thinking.
21st century multiple literacies - arts and creativity as literacies, media literacy, physical fitness and health literacies, ecoliteracy, financial literacy, information literacy, visual literacy, social/emotional literacy.
Connections to the curriculum - Art, History, Nutrition, Math, Language Arts, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Cultural Studies, Hospitality Industries, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Marketing, Business Development, Photography, Media Production (cooking shows to cook books), Literature, and of course, the joy of cooking!
21st century skills - creative thinking, curiosity and imagination, collaboration, agility and adaptability, accessing and analyzing knowledge, effective oral and written communication, problem solving, critical thinking.
21st century multiple literacies - arts and creativity as literacies, media literacy, physical fitness and health literacies, ecoliteracy, financial literacy, information literacy, visual literacy, social/emotional literacy.
The Arts - mosaics, sand painting, sculpting (clay, stone, wood, metal), ceramics, painting, sketching, origami, calligraphy . . . dance, music composition, making instruments, filmmaking, photography, claymation, cartooning . . .
While art has been virtually erased from public schools in the United States due to the standardized testing mania, other countries continue to recognize the extremely valuable role of the arts in education. The image here is a student's painting at a Turkish school.
While art has been virtually erased from public schools in the United States due to the standardized testing mania, other countries continue to recognize the extremely valuable role of the arts in education. The image here is a student's painting at a Turkish school.
Gardening - from "edible schoolyards" to "living schoolyards", window farming, hydroponics and aquaponics, the benefits to students are many.
Connections to the curriculum include Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, Economics, Business Planning, Music, Art, Filmmaking, Photography, Television Production, Publishing, Language Arts, Cultural Studies, Geography, History, Math, . . . also great opportunity for Service Learning projects.
Need a Garden Kitchen? See how this school raised funds for theirs.
Benefits - many schools use the production from the garden to provide nutritious, fresh foods to the school lunch program. There are also social/emotional benefits to allowing students the opportunity to connect with nature. Some schools allow students to create a business.
21st century skills - creativity, collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, initiative, accessing and analyzing information, curiosity and imagination, effective oral and written communication.
21st century literacies - information literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, ecoliteracy, creativity and the arts as literacies, physical fitness and health literacies, financial literacy.
Connections to the curriculum include Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, Economics, Business Planning, Music, Art, Filmmaking, Photography, Television Production, Publishing, Language Arts, Cultural Studies, Geography, History, Math, . . . also great opportunity for Service Learning projects.
Need a Garden Kitchen? See how this school raised funds for theirs.
Benefits - many schools use the production from the garden to provide nutritious, fresh foods to the school lunch program. There are also social/emotional benefits to allowing students the opportunity to connect with nature. Some schools allow students to create a business.
21st century skills - creativity, collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, initiative, accessing and analyzing information, curiosity and imagination, effective oral and written communication.
21st century literacies - information literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, ecoliteracy, creativity and the arts as literacies, physical fitness and health literacies, financial literacy.
Farming - window farming, rooftop farming, urban farming, classroom farming, patio farming . . .
This image is from an amazing project, The Green Bronx Machine. This area in New York City is considered a food desert - no stores where one may purchase fresh foods, especially vegetables. All you need is a bit of creativity and a commitment to make it happen! See this video.
This image is from an amazing project, The Green Bronx Machine. This area in New York City is considered a food desert - no stores where one may purchase fresh foods, especially vegetables. All you need is a bit of creativity and a commitment to make it happen! See this video.
Sustainability - Green Energy
This image is from a green city design challenge for middle school students.
This image is from a green city design challenge for middle school students.
Hydroponics and Aquaponics
Interior Design - decorating, painting, upholstery
Carpentry and Woodworking
Design - models, dioramas, architecture, landscaping
Building - bicycles, skateboards, kites, cars, airplanes, greenhouses, tree houses, bridges, labyrinths . . .
They have a treehouse classroom at the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio!
They have a treehouse classroom at the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio!
Fashion and Jewelry Design & Production
Fashion design, sewing, jewelry design, sales and marketing . . .
Fashion design, sewing, jewelry design, sales and marketing . . .
Architecture - buildings, "green" or "living" buildings, urban planning . . .
Designing or Building Bridges
This bridge design is the work of British architect, Thomas Heatherwick.
But, also see the bridge designed and built by students at the Inner Harbour School near Atlanta, Georgia. Here you will also see many of their sculptures as well as the labyrinth they designed and built themselves.
This bridge design is the work of British architect, Thomas Heatherwick.
But, also see the bridge designed and built by students at the Inner Harbour School near Atlanta, Georgia. Here you will also see many of their sculptures as well as the labyrinth they designed and built themselves.
Filmmaking - from full-length feature films to mini-documentaries and PSAs (Public Service Announcements) there is not a much more motivational or educationally rich project for your students. There is also no subject matter content that cannot be learned at higher levels using this tool!
See resources and how-to's here.
See resources and how-to's here.
Much more to come on this page!
