MakerSpace is an increasingly popular educational space that schools, libraries, and community centers are incorporating in order to get kids thinking and creating. What is a MakerSpace? Well, a common definition is, "a collaborative work space inside a school, library, or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools." (Makerspace.com)
I love the idea of a MakerSpace and so I've begun building one inside our library at Lely Elementary School. It is a place, smack dab in the center of our media center space, where kids can come in and use the tools to create and learn. We have building materials, robots, art supplies, circuit boards, and other tech tools with which kids can work. We are still building the space and we hope that by the end of the semester, we have a lot more stuff for kids to use.
MakerSpaces are important because they allow the kids to illustrate their ideas, build their schematics, express their creativity. Kids spend a lot of time in classrooms learning how to do things a certain way, and rightfully so. We need to teach kids literacy in language, numbers, and technology. There are certain things that kids should learn and we do a good job of teaching them. However, a MakerSpace is a place where there are no instructions, no "recipes" for making something.
A good MakerSpace, in my view, would resemble Edison's lab, or DaVinci's studio, or Bell's work space, or Tesla's area. It would be a place where tools and materials are abundant, but the child would have to put those tools and materials together to fashion something completely unique. These spaces give us a peek into how a child thinks, what processes they go through in their decision-making, and how closely they realize their visions.
There are lots of ways to run a MakerSpace. Some have "lessons" that the kids can complete, some have "recipes" or step-by-step instructions for the kids, and some no instructions or lessons. Ours is the latter, and for good reason. Kids experience the lessons in the classroom. If we provide for them step-by-step instructions in the MakerSpace, we don't get a chance to see their original thinking. They will be simply learning how to do what someone else wants them to do. Edison had no instructions. DaVinci had no instructions. They simply used the tools at their disposal, failed a lot, and eventually came up with something amazing. Do I think all of our kids will come up with something amazing in the MakerSpace? Nope. But I would like to see what they do come up with and also see their minds open up to the possibilities around them. I would like to see them get some practice in original thinking and creating.
We often see the best from students when they come up with something on their own. Our MakerSpace is an attempt to give our kids that forum. Kids will get time to learn and play according to what interests them, what motivates them. Our kids may discover things they like and areas where they excel. It is discovery-learning at its best. This is the value of MakerSpace and it is the best reason for every school to incorporate a MakerSpace into their program. Kids love a place where they can tinker, wonder, revise, ponder, imagine, and create. Our kids will be better off for having a MakerSpace, and so will our schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment