Makerspace: the prequel

The work of creating the Makerspace in the LMS Media Center is underway. {I donated my office after being inspired by Shannon Miller at ISTE.} The custodians have moved the bookcases and file cabinet, and will hopefully remove the old bulletin board soon. This week I’m going in to empty out my desk drawers and refill them with tools, paper, and other supplies, set up the green screen along one wall, open up the broken sewing machine (for makers to perhaps repair), draw a welcome sign on the white board, and put out the boxes. “The boxes” you ask?

This summer, between attending ISTE, EdCamp Global, CCRC training, and working my PLN, I have discovered many tools, toys, and apps my students can utilize in the Makerspace. Some of these were online, but several came in boxes, arriving over summer vacation. I’ve opened the boxes, peered inside to ascertain that the items I’ve ordered are all there, but other than that – things are still in their respective wrappers.

I’ve left these items in their boxes, patiently awaiting tweenage hands to free them, because what better way to say, “This is your space for creation and exploration!” than to allow students to unwrap, put together, log in, and otherwise parse out how to operate the new toys, tools, and apps that are there? (When I approached my principal about creating the Makerspace, this is precisely the concept that sold him.) 

So often, as teachers, we learn all that we can about a new tech tool, use it ourselves - figuring out how it will best work, and then share precise directions with our students - encouraging them to follow our steps precisely so they will be guaranteed success. The mission behind the Lockerman Makerspace is to have a place where students will feel free to be creative, experiment, and take ownership of their learning. Not only will I be handing students responsibility by having them unpack and assemble the new technology, but I’ll also be teaching them that learning occurs as much in the mistakes as it does in the successes. Stay tuned for updates.

If you have any successes or ideas to share, I'd love to hear about them in the comments!