Maker Spaces
Makerspace has been the buzz work in my school recently. I find it a little funny that things I have always done and had in the library are given new life with this new subject heading.
For example, I have always had Lego, puzzles, markers, crayons, etc., for the students to use. My theory for the library is that I want it to be the first place people think of when they need something, not the last.
Recently we visited the U of C and two high schools in Calgary to see their MakerSpaces!!! 3D printers, a computer design lab, a Laser Cutter, etc. These are large ticket items that I have no idea how to use!! Little bits, coloring, Lego, are some of the low tech items I have.
As I did this tour with a group of teachers and one other Librarian, I was struck by the different approaches these two groups have towards MakerSpace. My type of programing is more “passive programing” I supply the items you decide what you want to or not want to do with them. The teachers were busy discussing credits and Rubric’s!!! My only thought was if you want to mark it you are missing the point. As soon as you want to mark it, you are telling students how it needs to be done and in what time frame it needs to be done. A student may want to build a skyscraper out of Lego, they have done this many times before and will again. However they may onetime try to do a circular skyscraper, or a large window on the top floor, or on the bottom floor, they may add a balcony. They have a basic design but they may alter it each time they build it and learn what works and what doesn’t. You can’t mark this!! This process takes years!! Not weeks.
I know this looks like play time and it is!! Why is that bad? The kids are learning they just don’t know it. They are learning to do something that interests them. They are learning not to give up on an idea. They are learning to tinker or edit an idea until it works. They are learning to listen to other people. To share ideas about what worked or didn’t work for them in the past.
Today we had a learn to crochet session. It doesn’t get much more low-tech than that. The four students (ok not my highest turnout) learned how to start, they are going to make a scarf. A perfect project with plenty of time to finish before Christmas. After you learn how to make a scarf you can add things to the next one, buttons, flowers, Spiderman, whatever you think you can do. So you have your basic design and keep improving it. Sure you will make mistakes or do things that won’t work perfectly, but you are learning for life. And isn’t that the point???
