Makerspace Managed

Makerspace or STEM projects for kids don’t have to be complicated or expensive.  In fact, some of the best projects use recycled or repurposed items like cardboard or soda bottles which means nothing to buy.

Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite projects that are great for makerspaces.

At this stage of the edtech revolution, most educators are focused on using tech to enhance lessons rather than on the tech itself. But many times, tech is only integrated at specific points in the classroom or with a specific tool as determined by the teacher. At St. Albans City School in Vermont, SETDA’s 2018 Student Voices Award Winner, educators encourage the students to find places in their everyday work to incorporate digital resources, especially from their makerspace. In the edWebinar “Students Leverage Technology Tools and Makerspaces to Personalize Learning,” Grace Borst, innovation specialist at St. Albans City School, and several of her students explained how they’re using technology for assessment, service work, and more.

St. Albans City School has a dedicated makerspace open to all students from preK-8. In addition to class assignments in the space, open lab time is also available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students use this time for school and personal projects where tech might not be required but could add value. Although they miss class for open lab, the teachers recognize the benefits of letting students explore technology to help them achieve their personal and educational goals.

Here are some examples the student presenters shared about how they’ve used technology at St. Albans.

 Our campus moved to a combination fixed/flexible schedule, which has allowed our students additional opportunities to visit the makerspace outside of their normal library time.  Currently, Monday and Fridays are open check-out days and have also become open makerspace days. Makerspace Monday and Fun Friday have become a way for students to have additional time to invent, create, and make.  During these days students can visit the library with a makerspace pass. The pass is laminated and has a place for the teacher to write in the student’s name and amount of time they can visit the makerspace with a dry erase marker making the pass reusable.  

Makerspaces don't have to be expensive. Here's four examples of budget friendly projects and supplies for your makerspace.

Our recent activity development around Light Play led to a synergistic moment as I began to wonder whether cut paper installations I’ve created might allow for some interesting explorations, especially around creating collaborative light environments. So for two days this week, we filled the Tinkering Studio’s workshop space with cut paper crowds and invited people to collaborate in activating the installation using Light Play.

Learn how to make a car (powered toy) using a plastic bottle. Enjoy! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Radu-Caraus-1542396909376084/?ref=hl Instagram

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Ideas+for+makerspaces

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/luxembourg-education-interviews-5-creativity-and-maker-spaces-beecreative/

At 13, Jordan Reeves’ Maker cred is already impressive. She created her own 3D-printed, unicorn horn-shaped, glitter-shooting prosthetic that fits her left arm, which ends just above the elbow. Her Unicorn Project inspired Jordan and her mom Jen to start a non-profit, Born Just Right, to help other kids with limb differences learn to improve their lives with making too.

Jordan’s also a founding member of the STEAM Squad, a diverse group of some of the most accomplished girls involved in science, technology, engineering, art, and math today (which also includes Mythbusters Jr. co-host Allie Weber).

She has shown off her work at Maker Faire, AIGA, Parson’s School of Design, and many other venues across the country. And her experience with design has given her a chance to consult and offer insight to large brands across many different genres.

This is all to say that perhaps my coolest experience at Toy Fair New York this year was getting to meet Jordan and Jen and tag along when they finally got to see the fruits of their long-brewing collaboration with Mattel — the latest additions to their Barbie Fashionista line, which includes dolls with different body types, hair textures, skin tones, and now has dolls in wheelchairs and a doll with a prosthetic leg.

By Terry Heick

In this project tutorial, we’re going to be making 6 different Halloween paper circuit creations.  Using parallel and simple circuits, you’ll be able to bring these templates to life with copper tape, LEDs and batteries.

Once you learn how to create these projects, you can use the concepts learned to make your own haunted paper circuit creations.

Project Time: 15 minutes (Each Project)

Learning about basic electronics and creating your own projects is a lot easier than you may think.  In this tutorial, we’re going to give you a brief overview of common electronic components and explain what their functions are.  You will then learn about schematic diagrams and how they are used to design and build circuits.  And finally, you will put this information to use by creating your first basic circuit.

For the first time in four years, I am without a makerspace.  My new school’s library is beautiful and huge and has a school culture that is just ripe for making.  Even though it was tempting, I decided not to change it up and create a makerspace over the summer.  I want to be sure that the library program, including a new makerspace, is responsive to the needs of the school and its culture.  Therefore, I plan on spending at least the first-semester making plans for how this space will work.  It will likely be very different from my previous space, but I’m excited to see what forms.

Making plans for a new makerspace can be daunting, so I’ve gathered together some tips to help get started:

Driving several types of relay board using any Arduino.

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?&tag=ARDUINO

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?&tag=Ideas+for+makerspaces