Makerspace..all the rage, all the excitement, the power, the impact the limitless possibilities, the way it is CHANGING THE WORLD! It's also the one topic that causes me to be filled with the most self-doubt, sense of failure, and minor panic when I try to align what I know to be true in the world with what I know to be true in my world.
Here's what keeps me up at night:
- don't have a designated space that is used all the time for making (though do have physical space/room) not always available for making
- LOTS of making but doesn't it match what HIGH LEVEL making
- don't have a staff person designated to space
- need a sustainable model (cost, consumables budget, supervision)
- need a shared vision of how makerspace aligns with study hall (iLab)
- need more partners to align makerspace with content
- I can't safely manage all maker activities AND other core priorities
- worry purchasing is being done in cart before horse model
- struggling to find a "go to" person/team to help decide what to buy/add/do
- buy-in seems in concept not in roll-out
Good "problems" to have:
More resources here! Great visual statement on what it IS! - top down belief in makerspaces
- grant $$ and not sure what to buy
- after school busing
- physical space
- technology dept support
- student leadership team (#istaff)
- 750 teenagers
- 1:1 model with chromebooks
- rich maker opportunities throughout school--FACS, TECH, ART, MUSIC
- willing librarian
- smart staff
Here's what I have finally learned to "OWN" (with guidance from OCC Librarian Pauline Shostack) when I shared my "panic" that I don't have the coolest makerspace ever-or at all. We DO have MAKING going on....and there are MODELS of spaces/concepts:
- DEDICATED SPACE--full time, set up, equipped, supported with staff/help
- POPUP MAKERSPACE--events, challenges, activities, choices for designated window of time (week or 12-6pm or a specific day)
- MOBILE MAKERSPACES--provide opportunities for making IN others' spaces with support materials, guidance, and other to make it work "there".
We are developing a HYBRID...so it's not that we don't have ANY, we are developing a model that works for us! And we're exploring a great deal and our rich with student centered culture.
NEXT UP:
- working on specs for a Digital Maker Space proposal (camera, speakers, etc) with grant $$ (having a hard time getting answers on WHAT to purchase--major roadblock--I know concept, not specs)
- create and publish MISSION (hang in space) for our Maker program
- wall of evidence in space (photos/testimony) in addition to social media
- alignment of content to materials we currently have (ex spheros to 8th grade math)
- plan monthly POPUP MAKERSPACES that include no tech, low tech, and high tech options--have run BY students for students
- create specific Maker Leadership team from iStaff
- less guilt, more healty prioritizing
- less compare and despair, more personalize what works for US!
THIS!!!
ReplyDeleteless guilt, more healty prioritizing
less compare and despair, more personalize what works for US!
No guilt, no comparing. I sense that many people get stressed about this. (I got stressed just trying to figure out how to include it as a lesson!) But I do like that it's making people try new things. A shame so many people hear the word "makerspace" and dismiss it as something trendy that will go away.