In this article, Laura Flemming, teacher and media specialist, discusses how to order equipment and materials for a makerspace in which students can explore, create, and build, guided by their passions and questions. She cautions schools not to simply order materials and equipment that is trendy or that other schools have. Instead, the needs and interests of the learners using it should guide the process. She suggests that selecting items for a makerspace should be the last step a school takes in creating a space tailored to the school community. She encourages schools to follow a process: understand their students, assess existing curriculum and programs, consider best practices and trends, develop themes, and lastly, order materials and equipment that will support their vision. Once a school is ready, she suggests assessing choices based on five considerations: mobility, open-ended exploration, knowledge of students’ needs and interest, empowerment, and engagement, and relevance.
This article is a must-read for school and district leaders considering the development of a makerspace.
Source Organization: EdSurge