Ballin' on a Budget:
Making a Makerspace Work on Any Budget
After moving to Summerville, I must say that I was disappointed
in the local library that I was “zoned” to, after being a resident in Columbia. The Richland Library, located downtown in Columbia, SC, was
amazing! I will never let go of my Where the Wild Things Are themed library
card and I am excited to hear (from Dr. Moorefield-Lang’s lecture) about all
the changes that they have made to include various makerspaces. I would love to visit their spaces to see how
the library has evolved. Now, on to makerspaces
in the school library…
What is a makerspace?
Britton (2016) defines it as a place that promotes learning through play
(with a possible integration of science, math, technology, arts, and
engineering). So, you are a school librarian,
and you want to join the “Makerspace Movement”.
The first step is to identify the needs, passions, and interests of your
patrons. The makerspace will not be effective if no one is interested in the
idea that you have selected, so do your research! Makerspaces do not have to be expensive and
use the latest and cutting-edge technology.
One can start off small, with little things to tinker with. This could be as simple and inexpensive as
working with cloth, tape, or even coloring pages. Use other resources (like YouTube) and
friends to help you with ideas.
Makerspaces can also be a means to build partnerships with the community
by inviting community members into the school library to share their knowledge
with patrons and the patrons use that knowledge to foster their creations.
Makerspaces is not just about having your patrons “do stuff”. It is more purposeful. It encourages our students to problem solve,
create, and collaborate. What I love
most about makerspaces is that students may not find a solution to their
problem initially, but the building of their perseverance is key. I think it is important for students today to
understand that sometimes failure is a part of life. Life will have many challenges and one must persevere,
by overcoming no matter what. In addition
to perseverance, problem solving, and collaboration/communication skills students
can glean a multitude of life skills from engaging in the library’s makerspace.
We have all seen the makerspaces with modern, spacious, and soundproof
rooms. The space might include a high-tech
3-d printer, Spheros, or an audio-visual room that looks like a mini newsroom. A
new teacher-library, this may cause feelings of defeat or ignite sparks of
creation and innovation. How do you
start a school library makerspace, especially if funding is scant? Rendina
(2016) gives school librarians tips on how to start, once you know the needs,
interests, and passions of your students.
1. Share Your Vision
with All People – Tell EVERYONE about your vision! They will support you! Speak up and tell them about your amazing
project!
References
Johnson, S. (n.d.). Building a makerspace on a budget. Tierney.
After moving to Summerville, I must say that I was disappointed
in the local library that I was “zoned” to, after being a resident in Columbia. The Richland Library, located downtown in Columbia, SC, was
amazing! I will never let go of my Where the Wild Things Are themed library
card and I am excited to hear (from Dr. Moorefield-Lang’s lecture) about all
the changes that they have made to include various makerspaces. I would love to visit their spaces to see how
the library has evolved. Now, on to makerspaces
in the school library…
What is a makerspace? Britton (2016) defines it as a place that promotes learning through play (with a possible integration of science, math, technology, arts, and engineering). So, you are a school librarian, and you want to join the “Makerspace Movement”. The first step is to identify the needs, passions, and interests of your patrons. The makerspace will not be effective if no one is interested in the idea that you have selected, so do your research! Makerspaces do not have to be expensive and use the latest and cutting-edge technology. One can start off small, with little things to tinker with. This could be as simple and inexpensive as working with cloth, tape, or even coloring pages. Use other resources (like YouTube) and friends to help you with ideas. Makerspaces can also be a means to build partnerships with the community by inviting community members into the school library to share their knowledge with patrons and the patrons use that knowledge to foster their creations.
Makerspaces is not just about having your patrons “do stuff”. It is more purposeful. It encourages our students to problem solve, create, and collaborate. What I love most about makerspaces is that students may not find a solution to their problem initially, but the building of their perseverance is key. I think it is important for students today to understand that sometimes failure is a part of life. Life will have many challenges and one must persevere, by overcoming no matter what. In addition to perseverance, problem solving, and collaboration/communication skills students can glean a multitude of life skills from engaging in the library’s makerspace.
We have all seen the makerspaces with modern, spacious, and soundproof rooms. The space might include a high-tech 3-d printer, Spheros, or an audio-visual room that looks like a mini newsroom. A new teacher-library, this may cause feelings of defeat or ignite sparks of creation and innovation. How do you start a school library makerspace, especially if funding is scant? Rendina (2016) gives school librarians tips on how to start, once you know the needs, interests, and passions of your students.
1. Share Your Vision with All People – Tell EVERYONE about your vision! They will support you! Speak up and tell them about your amazing project!
References
Johnson, S. (n.d.). Building a makerspace on a budget. Tierney.
Rendina, D. (2018, February 22). How to start a makerspace when you are
Rendina, D. (2018, February 22). How to start a makerspace when you are
broke. Knowledge Quest. https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/start-makerspace-
I think the last suggestion is the most important: go make stuff!!! As a type A perfectionist, it has been very hard for me to just make stuff. However, the more I cut myself some slack, the better the makerspaces turn out! The kids don't care so much about the outward appearance of things because they're more excited about diving in and playing (even though we all secretly know they're learning). Thanks for your post that reminds me to put my type A aside and let my creativity get the best of me! (Amy Misenheimer)
ReplyDeleteHi Richelle—
ReplyDeleteI experienced a similar feeling as a member of the Augusta-Richmond Library in comparison to the Richland Public Library, hands down, the latter is magnificent in comparison. The Richland Library has gone through renovations and changes, so they made some revisions (as you stated) to their makerspaces since the 2014 research by Dr. Moorefield-Lang, but they made significant changes for the better. I think multiple library memberships is a plus because I still use their library system from a distance. This could be something to consider in providing digital content when “ballin’ on a budget” in your classroom or library. I think the children can spark ideas for creating things from things. Who says the items must equal a specific product? Place some items in a tub and see what inquiry-based experimentation shells out from those young minds. I served as a teacher and a principal of youth offenders and observed how creative young minds are with limited resources. Granted, they put together some things that were considered contraband, but the premise behind it is they used creativity (along with criminal thinking). However, they used creativity to make things appropriately that sometimes made me scratch my head. These students that I served are not some youth that we conjured up from some space unknown. These were youth from various school districts in South Carolina. Thought to ponder: Did they have access to makerspaces in their home schools?
Summitted by Pamela Thomas
Hi there Richelle!
ReplyDeleteI was so excited last year when I saw that Richland County had opened a new building in the Northeast with a Teaching Kitchen! I would love to do something like that in my elementary library. Perhaps nothing that requires use of an oven or cook-top, but perhaps teaching them to follow recipes that require no cooking. I'm thinking sandwiches, veggies, trail-mix, etc. Recognizing that food allergies are of great concern, this also gives me pause.
As far as making on a budget, I can remember my mom keeping all sorts of random objects (toilet paper rolls, paper, scissors, tape, sequins, etc.) for us to grab and create things with as a kid. I loved just getting in there and cutting, gluing, taping, stapling, whatever! It's amazing how easy it is to entertain kids without all of the bells and whistles.
Hi, Richelle,
ReplyDeleteI love the emphasis that you place on the needs and wants of the patrons/students in your post! I think that the importance of the people who are actually going to be using the space often gets lost in discussions of makerspaces. We want them to be impressive and exciting, so we have a tendency to fill them up with all of the latest and coolest tech tools and toys! Which, for some makerspaces, is perfect--it's exactly what the patrons want and need. But I think some of these hi-tech tools can be deeply intimidating to other makerspace users, especially younger or shyer users. I remember when I was working for the local public library, right around the time that makerspaces really started taking off, the Teen Services department started trying to incorporate more making technologies into our teen programming--without actually offering the branch staff (including me!) any training on our new tech toys. As a result, these tools were not often requested for programming in the branches, because we branch teen programming assistants didn't know how to use the tools ourselves, never mind how to help our teens learn to use them! But my teens greatly enjoyed the crafting/making programs using recycled materials and basic craft tools that they (and I!) already felt comfortable using. I sometimes wonder how many of those shiny making tools were purchased by the Teen Services department because the teen patrons themselves had actually expressed interest in them, and how many were purchased more for the sake of clout. After all, your last point sums up the idea behind the Maker Movement best--it's about making stuff! It's about showing students that they are creative and competent problem-solvers who can design and make whatever they can imagine. I love your post, and will keep some of these tips in mind when establishing (or evaluating) my future school's makerspace!
Tiffany Alley