What is a Makerspace?
It seems everywhere I go now, I hear this phrase. Magazines, books, librarians in our district, city, and state, community centers, universities are all interesting in creating a place for people to be together and think about how to solve problems.
Makerspaces are not the Learning Centers of the 1970s, although they started there. In the 70's, we had glue and construction paper and--if we were lucky--fat markers instead of Crayons. But that's a far cry from what we're talking about now. Now, we are talking about a space where students come to share their ideas and their knowledge with each other while creating real things--everything from models of bridges and buildings to robots to who knows what. Legos, batteries, welding stations...what you put in a makerspace is based on your resources and creativity. What does this mean for our libraries?
Makerspaces are not the Learning Centers of the 1970s, although they started there. In the 70's, we had glue and construction paper and--if we were lucky--fat markers instead of Crayons. But that's a far cry from what we're talking about now. Now, we are talking about a space where students come to share their ideas and their knowledge with each other while creating real things--everything from models of bridges and buildings to robots to who knows what. Legos, batteries, welding stations...what you put in a makerspace is based on your resources and creativity. What does this mean for our libraries?
Libraries are no longer simply a holding area for books, they are community hubs. People gather at the library to share ideas and enrich their lives. Computers and internet are now standard in libraries and are often in demand. Unemployed individuals can come to the library and apply for jobs. Kids can do their homework (or play games) at the library. But did you know that libraries are now becoming much more than books, computers and internet? Libraries are becoming creation spaces, often called maker spaces (or makerspaces).
William Gibson, a writer who I think predicts the future, describes in his new novel a makerspace where people come in to create items ranging from fashion accessories to electronic devices and then print them using a 3-D printer. I haven't finished it yet, so I don't know how it ends, but the idea of being able to think up something and then fabricate is no longer a future fantasy. Cory Doctorow wrote a fascinating blog about information, libraries, and makerspaces in which he said,
What's more, we're *drowning* in information... everyone can reach everything, all the time, and the job of experts is to collect and annotate that material, to help others navigate its worth and truthfulness.
What's more, we're *drowning* in information... everyone can reach everything, all the time, and the job of experts is to collect and annotate that material, to help others navigate its worth and truthfulness.
That is to say that society has never needed its librarians, and its libraries, more. The major life-skill of the information age is information literacy, and no one's better at that than librarians. It's what they train for. It's what they live for.
But there's another gang of information-literate people out there, a gang who are a natural ally of libraries and librarians: the maker movement. Clustered in co-operative workshops called "makerspaces" or "hack(er)spaces," makers build physical stuff. They make robots, flying drones, 3D printers (and 3D printed stuff), jewelry, tools, printing presses, clothes, medieval armor... Whatever takes their fancy. Making in the 21st century has moved out of the individual workshop and gone networked...
There are many resources and ideas out on the web for starting, creating, and funding Makerspaces. Information about creating a Makerspace. What have you already heard about them, tried, or seen? Is this a good idea for libraries? What would you put in a Makerspace?
This sounds very interesting. Time and space are my biggest concerns. I have several students who would love and benefit from one.
ReplyDeleteAfter visiting the Leonardo Museum in SLC, I found myself dreaming of a STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, and Math) makerspace in my library. A place where students can create, design, and problem solve without the pressure of an assignment, assessment, etc. My hope is that students will find pressure-free creation a relaxing way to decompress from the pressures of life, while still learning and not getting in trouble elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time when I was a 1st grade classroom teacher, I would put jigsaw puzzles, matching/sequencing as well as memory games in the Mathematics centers; all the mathematics skills and concepts that are embedded in things that students "play" with. Its a really smart/sneaky way for teachers to help kids to design and problem solve without the external academic pressure. Makerspaces are a great thing, they are a whole new level/different animal from effective student centers.
DeleteMy students would love the opportunity to participate in a maker space and be able to build/create small projects cooperatively. It puts me in mind of a recent visit to the Lego store. Amazing! I think I could test pilot it in a small way with a group of students.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of McDonald's, perhaps such a business would be happy to donate material to recycle in a Makerspace.
ReplyDeleteWhen my own children were in elementary school, Hallmark Cards in Kansas City Missouri offered such a space with lots of interesting material to recycle from the greeting card printing business. My son must have been of Kindergarten age. He still remembers the "blast" in had. Of course, he already knew he was destined to be a world class Architect!
Motto: Things are up to date in Kansas City, Missouri. (Comma. :-) needed)
Delete.....the "blast" he had.
Wow, I have never heard the term "makerspace" before. Sounds almost Biblical! People working together to create and solve problems sounds good. I agree with what was said above about space being an issue. At our school, time is also an issue. This type of creativity is not encouraged with the structure of our schedules and the intense focus on testing. In the olden days we called "real stuff" realia. I plan to look this up on the Internet to learn more. 3D printers, YES....there are a few things I would like to print.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a "makerspace" but have been trying to make my library a place for research and learning, as well as a place for hanging out and socializing. I like the idea of having an area with a puzzle and legos that students can collaboratively put together. I saw a puzzle table at East High (yeah, Sarah!) and thought it was a wonderful idea to create a community.
ReplyDeleteLibraries have always been “Makerspaces”, it is only the end product that leaves the library that has changed. In the past libraries –both public and private - were the places where ideas and visions were stored, created, exchanged and created. One marvelous example is Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. I doubt he could have created such a marvelous document without access to a library. These ideas and visions left the library in the minds of the library user, some as seeds for the future to find development in garages, barns, houses or battlefields. Others were fully ripened fruit.
ReplyDeleteNow technology makes it possible for many of those ideas to be developed even further through the use of printers, copiers, internet, publishing and even 3D printing. Questions of ethics and the role of libraries begin to come to the fore in the minds of many individuals, some of whom it seems have never even been aware of the issues before. Yet at their core these questions have always been there.
We wonder if it is ethical for libraries to allow patrons access to the full internet – including objectionable or pornographic sites, but we defended the rights of library users to such material in print (i.e. Catcher in the Rye or The Joy of Sex or other informational materials). We cringe at the idea of patron access to 3D printers which can print functioning handguns, but once championed the right of access to The Anarchist Cookbook with its step-by-step instructions on bomb making. And we get mired down in questions of ethics when we really look at how we implement the principles of “Freedom to Read”. Right now I am having a discussion with my 1st Grade ELP teacher about how to steer her students who are reading at a 3rd, 4th, and even 5th grade level away from the "teen" materials to chapter books with appropriate subject matter. Some would say we should be very restrictive on what students can access, while other would look upon those who do as vile practitioners of censorship.
All I really want is to have students leave the library with a love for reading, an ability to choose books appropriately – whether for pleasure or for information –, and to be ethical users of information. Some days it seems that even that is a Sisyphean task.
I love all of your comments. I think its a great idea. I think the public libraries (teens are my focus) already have some things in place. I am not copping out but the schedule is a reality that doesn't offer time for students to hang around. I have a class during high school lunch, so that is kind of out. I have thought of getting several comfy leather chairs for students who could come and read if they are finished with their work in a class. I like the puzzle idea. Cost would be a concern. I don't even have an AV budget. Ha. I don't know, I'm thinking of erasing this, but I wrote it so here it is. I guess I have things higher on my list, but I like the idea.
ReplyDeleteI do love the idea of the library being a place of community but, as others have said, this can be tough with our time constraints and the rigidity of our schedule. My library is open every day 15 minutes before school and I love the "hang out" feeling during that time...very relaxed. Lots of different kinds of things going on. Not sure how I could fit that kind of thing into a school day.
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts for elementary and middle school with tighter schedules: A makerspace could happen teaching with library centers. One reference on how to do this is from the "Centered School Librarian" http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13091306-the-centered-school-library.
ReplyDeleteFYI--I am writing an SCC grant to begin a makerspace in the West High Library. With each table representing a different subject such as: engineering, science, math, art, writing/language, and social studies. I will keep you all informed if I am successful at securing the funds.
I may also seek funding on 100%4kids Utah Teacher Grants.
I like this idea, of different tables for different subjects.
DeleteI like the idea of maker spaces. It could possibly work at recess time. I have several students who come in and they could do that. However the problem is finding the time and funds to come up with the maker space. Michelle, please do let us know if you get funding.
ReplyDeleteI have had things like Rose talked about: puzzles, memory games, tangrams, pattern papers, things that were sneaky ways of letting kids learn and create. I had them in the library to do when they had checked out their books and were waiting for other students to finish checking out books. Or if they needed a way to escape from life at recess and find a safe place to be. I really am not sure why, other than time, time, time and less time, but there doesn't seem to be the same chances to do these things in library as of late. My schedule is full and before school there are tutors working with students in the library and after school programs in the library so other than about 15 minutes during lunch time, there isn't a free moment. If I can't even fit in the old activities I know I would struggle with time even if I secured the $$ or funding. It would be something that would be great to plan into a schedule. I'd love it.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Rosie Revere Engineer to my 4th graders, I showed them a couple Rube Goldberg videos (if you are unfamiliar, Google these fun motion/energy experiments). I started fantasizing about making an area for Rube Goldberg type productions, but talked myself out of it. I've got books to order, better lessons to craft, research projects to grade, teachers and librarians to collaborate with, newsletters to write, books to shelve, too many webpages to oversee, professional development to focus on. I realized that a place to have kids explore and experiement would be great fun, but I just don't feel I've got the time to oversee it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do have is a couple of microscopes for students to explore. This is a place where students can explore and apply their learning. Students love the microscope, which is available for them to look at before and after school and during library visits.
It used to be that students at our school didn't look into a microscope until sixth grade. I changed that when I brought my daughter's in. Their excitement was wonderful. I was then donated a much more powerful microscope. I can't imagine not having these.
Linda, excellent points. Come to think of it, I'd love a few microscopes in my library, too! Plus, a microscope is sturdy enough and large enough not to go missing easily, either...
Delete(I was going to post an image of a couple students at the library's microscope center, but I can't seem to post one here."
ReplyDeleteI have tried making activity stations in the past few year after reading some blog posting about them. I found them to be less than successful. First I tried making stations that had a lot to do with library books -like origami and duct tape crafts. Don't get me wrong, the students were thrilled, but so thrilled that I was constantly breaking up fights at the table, then the time there meant they didn't look for library books-then panicked when it was time to go -they wanted to check out the craft books, but since the books were being used for the table, it led to much disappointment, then there was the constant theft of the paper, leading to me having to remember/then put out about 5-10 sheets before each class arrived, which was a pain.
ReplyDeleteI also tried a 'brain training' table with books that had riddles, rubix cubes, a human brain puzzle, and brain teasers. The rubix cubes went missing pretty fast. I was pretty sad about it =expensive.
I also tried a rock/mineral display -with the really old sad boxes of minerals that the teachers no longer use -a bunch of magnifying glasses and identification books. This was fun, and we have so many rock/mineral books that I could let the students check out as many as they wanted. However, the rock sample started to go missing too.
This year, the space I had the activity table is filled with new computers, so I haven't explored creating a new station yet. It is a time and money issue like others have said.
I like the idea of makerspaces but need to research it more before implementing it in my own library. I'd like to discuss more with other librarians: what's worked, what hasn't, etc. For my school, I can see this happening in my library more before and after school. If time or help is limited, why not get other teachers interested? They could be another resource for lending a hand.
ReplyDeleteThinking of a library beyond its walls, beyond books and the Internet, is intriguing.
Some ideas that come to mind include using the library for: art club, poetry slams/readings, lego/brick building clubs, etc.
Incorporating the concept of makerspaces into library lessons seems challenging but possible. It may take some trial and error. I'd like to re-think my lessons and see when and how I could incorporate real-world modeling, artifacts, and hands-on manipulatives to extend my lessons, making my library into a makerspace.
Anything that gets kids thinking creatively and critically fits well in a library. However, how to implement a makerspace at school is another matter. Love all your comments!
ReplyDeleteFor anyone still interested in the discussion about maker-spaces, Bound to Stay Bound recently published an article on the subject with links to further information and discussion. Look on their website for their March newsletter.
ReplyDelete