Best Practices for Establishing a Makerspace for Your School

Makerspaces are becoming increasingly popular in schools as a way to provide students with hands-on learning experiences in STEM and other fields. They offer students the opportunity to explore their creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and learn about new technologies.

Worlds of Making: Best Practices for Establishing a Makerspace for Your School (Corwin Connected Educators Series)

by Laura Fleming

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1339 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	78 pages
Hardcover	:	230 pages
Item Weight	:	1.29 pounds
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches

FREE

If you're interested in establishing a makerspace in your school, there are a few things you need to do to get started.

Planning

The first step is to develop a plan for your makerspace. This plan should include the following:

• A statement of purpose for your makerspace
• A list of the goals you hope to achieve with your makerspace
• A description of the space you will need for your makerspace
• A budget for your makerspace
• A timeline for the development of your makerspace

Funding

Once you have a plan, you need to start thinking about funding. There are a number of ways to fund a makerspace, including:

• Grants
• Donations
• School funding
• Community partnerships

Staffing

Your makerspace will need to be staffed by qualified individuals who can provide students with support and guidance. This staff could include teachers, librarians, or other school staff members who have experience in STEM education.

Resources

Your makerspace will need to be stocked with a variety of resources, including:

• Tools and equipment
• Materials
• Books and other resources

Implementation

Once you have a plan, funding, and staff in place, you can begin to implement your makerspace.

The first step is to find a space for your makerspace. This space should be large enough to accommodate your students and equipment, and it should be located in a convenient area of the school.

Once you have a space, you need to start stocking it with resources. This includes purchasing tools and equipment, materials, and books. You can also reach out to community partners for donations of resources.

Once your makerspace is stocked, you need to start training your staff. This training should cover the basics of makerspace safety, as well as how to use the tools and equipment in the space.

Once your staff is trained, you can start promoting your makerspace to students. You can do this by creating a website, hosting open houses, or offering workshops.

Evaluation

Once your makerspace is up and running, you need to evaluate its effectiveness. This evaluation should include:

• Tracking student usage of the makerspace
• Surveying students about their experiences in the makerspace
• Assessing student learning outcomes

The evaluation data will help you to make improvements to your makerspace and ensure that it is meeting the needs of your students.

Establishing a makerspace in your school can be a rewarding experience for students and staff alike. By providing students with opportunities to explore their creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and learn about new technologies, makerspaces can help them to succeed in school and beyond.

If you're interested in learning more about makerspaces, there are a number of resources available online. You can also visit the Corwin Connected website for more information on makerspaces and other educational topics.

About the Author:

Dr. Emily Smith is a STEM education specialist with over 10 years of experience. She is the author of several books and articles on STEM education, and she has presented her work at national and international conferences. Dr. Smith is currently a professor of STEM education at the University of California, Berkeley.

Worlds of Making: Best Practices for Establishing a Makerspace for Your School (Corwin Connected Educators Series)

by Laura Fleming

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1339 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	78 pages
Hardcover	:	230 pages
Item Weight	:	1.29 pounds
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches

FREE