Reading review part C: Reflections and resources

Makerspace

With my main goal being to help with the evolution of the learning commons area within the school and incorporating digital literacies I decided to go directly to the source and I talked to my teacher librarian (TL) about this course and my initial brainstorm for this assignment. I told her about my idea of initiating a maker-space within the library, incorporating technology literacies and providing a space for students to be responsible for their own learning through exploring, inquiry, and building. She was set on makerspace most specifically incorporating a maker toolset; STEM/STEAM in the library. What was interesting as in discussing the importance of maker-space we soon realized this space incorporates many aspects of the 21 century learner.  It is a place which provides innovation infused curriculum, which fits well with individual learning and the idea of students responsible for their own learning through exploring, inquiry, building, and technology. Therefore I have decided to focus on markerspace and how I can help initiate this within my school.

1. What is a Makerspace?

TED. (2015 Jan. 12) Jason Wik &Gabriel Wilkes: The maker movement in schools  [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpFnsCBVpH4

The first recourse I found useful was a YouTube video. I am personally a visual learner so this resource helped me gain a general understanding of this topic. This specific resource highlights the importance of teaching students to become innovators and help solve world problems. Through science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) teachers are able to provide 21-century innovation and learning.  The goal is to connect children to a maker toolset composed of electronics, 3D modelling, robotics and coding. From here students can be provided with innovated infused curriculum by outlining a problem, collecting data, and  evaluating real life situation. Wil & Wilkes then discusses the steps involved to help start this process.

1.     Chose theme

2.     Build demo

3.     Play test

4.     Prototype plan

5.     Feedback & iteration

6.     Showcase project

This process helps showcase student’s ability to create a solution, provide a logical plan, demonstrate technical skills, follow the plan, and present the solution. Overall this helps students learn critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

2. How to incorporate a makerspace in your school.

Krakower, B., Martin, M. (2019). Getting Started with STEAM. New York: Routledge, https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.4324/9780429504501

From here I decided to look on the UBC Library database and searched for different articles relating to makerspace. I ended up finding an online book, Getting started with STEAM. This resource is broken up into 10 chapters.

1.     The what and why of steam

2.     Planning your steam space

3.     Stocking your space

4.     Planning for instruction

5.     Incorporating the core subjects

6.     Getting aligned: standards and assessments

7.     It takes a village: getting the community involved

8.     Designing thinking: taking your steam class to the next level

9.     Next steps

10. Conclusion- example projects and lessons

This is an amazing free resource, which lays out the steps and process of actually incorporating STEAM within the school. I have begun to read this book and can’t wait to start the process of planning my steam space.

3. Resources to encourage makerspace

EBSCOpost (2017).Makerspaces: Hands-on Learning for Students of All Abilities Library resources retrieved from https://www.ebsco.com/blog/article/makerspaces-hands-on-learning-for-students-of-all-abilities

This article highlights the importance of hands on learning for students of all abilities. What makes makerspace so unique is the idea of hands on learning, creating, and collaborating.  Within this space, all students, including those with learning differences; English language learners, learning disabilities, physical learning disabilities, and reluctant learners are able to come to a space with open ended exploration. It is a space where students can express themselves without failure. This article highlights the importance of building life skills and designing for differentiated learning.

4. Virtual learning commons 

Loertscher, D. V., & Koechlin, C. (2012). The virtual learning commons and school improvement. Teacher librarian, 40 (1), 20. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=9774cf27-b8de-4269-9757-21cfd65b226f%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=82862806&db=aph

This resource helps define a virtual learning commons and how it is link to building a sense of community. Loerscher & Koechlin discusses five main portals which make up the virtual learning commons. 

1. Information center

2. Literacy center

3. Knowledge building center

4. School culture

5. Experimental learning center

They also provide a template to help build your own within your school. 

5. Further resources!

“Ultimate Makerspace Resource Guide.” Makerspace.com, 2019, www.makerspaces.com/makerspace-guide-school-and-library/.

Finally this website proves to be an endless resources for teachers and teacher librarians. Makerspaces.com provides many different articles, blogs, academic resources, and books, all highlighting different aspects of makerspace.

-       What is makerspace

-       Makerspace in schools/libraries

-       Benefits of makerspace

-       Makerspace special education

-       How to start a makerspace

-       Makerspace materials and supplies

-       Makerspace tools and equipment

-       Makerspace furniture ideas

-       Makerspace projects

-       Makerspace storage ideas

-       Makerspace ideas

-       Makerspace websites

-       Makerspace assessment

-       Makerspace books

-       Makerspace and stem/steam

-       Makerspace directory

With an exceeding amount of resources available on the topic of makerspace it was difficult to narrow it down to five. I had to outline the importance of this assignment, which was me implementing this concept within my school. Therefore a resource explaining the importance of makerspace was key. I then felt a resource showcasing the actual step-by-step process of initiating makerspace within ones school was essential. I thought it was also important to show how makerspace  proves as a tool which helps incorporate differentiated instructions for every student within our school.  From here I came back to the idea of the physical and virtual learning commons space and found a resource incorporating the importance of virtual learning,  a resource linking the virtual learning commons and school improvement. Finally the last resource I wanted to incorporate was a website built to help foster a love for makerspace and provide teachers and librarians with the necessary resources to being their own unique journey.

Overall this assignment allowed for me to search the web for resources I found useful. It was a refreshing experience as we had the ability to figure it out on our own. I felt very satisfied with my top 5 resources and have already started a plan to help my teacher librarian initiate a makerspace within our old computer lab.

Resource List:

EBSCOpost (2017).Makerspaces: Hands-on Learning for Students of All Abilities Library resources retrieved from https://www.ebsco.com/blog/article/makerspaces-hands-on-learning-for-students-of-all-abilities

Krakower, B., Martin, M. (2019). Getting Started with STEAM. New York: Routledge, https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.4324/9780429504501

Loertscher, D. V., & Koechlin, C. (2012). The virtual learning commons and school improvement. Teacher librarian, 40 (1), 20.

TED. (2015 Jan. 12) Jason Wik &Gabriel Wilkes: The maker movement in schools  [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpFnsCBVpH4

“Ultimate Makerspace Resource Guide.” Makerspace.com, 2019, www.makerspaces.com/makerspace-guide-school-and-library/.