The Makerspace Revolution

by Marion Peña

    More and more schools are implementing and dedicating in-school Makerspaces in the center of each school's media center or as a separate class entirely. In this blogpost I will be discussing the exciting opportunities Makerspace provides for students to learn, create, collaborate, invent and discover new ideas or build on existing ones.

   

    "Makerspaces are part of what is called the "Maker Movement", which started in the early 2000's. The "Maker Movement" emphasized hands-on discovery in a world that had increasingly become automated." The Maker Education movement has sparked a minor revolution in K-12 education.

    A successful Makerspace program provides kids with a variety of tools and materials along with the freedom to create. The space has to be flexible allowing students to be supported in activities such as computer coding and robotics, 3D printing, electronics and circuits and building and construction.

    The idea of Makerspaces has caught on the last few years and now even public libraries have began to create them. Kids love it and it is a great way to discover how far your students' thinking and imagination can go.

    I personally was introduced to the Makerspace Revolution after I watched a video called "Caine's Arcade" in a Makerspace class where I work.  The film "Caine's Arcade is about nine year old Caine Monroy who made a super detailed cardboard arcade in his dad's East Los Angeles used auto part store. His first customer happened to be filmmaker Nirvan Mullick who was inspired by Caine's inventiveness and decided to get Caine a flashmob of customers one Sunday. This film is about that day. Not only will this film touch your heart but it also inspired many kids through their Makerspace programs in school to create and engineer with cardboard. Please watch the video of Caine's Arcade below to see for yourself and let me know what you think. Perhaps you can implement this activity into your Makerspace lesson.

Here is a video and example of how many schools have started celebrating an annual "cardboard challenge" based off of Caine's Arcade. Kids love it and work on their "invention" during their Makerspace classes in school.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the endless possibilities Makerspace can provide and I hope when you have an opportunity to visit a Makerspace sometime, you will take the opportunity to do so.

Sources cited:

"What makes a great makerspace?" by Waters, John K. ,T H E Journal Sept 2016, Vol 43, Issue 5

"Elementary Makerspace" by District Information July 2018, Vol 54, Issue 7 (Makerspaces in Elementary Schools)