MakerSpace: Getting Started
South Johnston High School Media Center Maker Corner
What is a MakerSpace?
The Gears Began Turning...
A few years ago, a group of girls would meet up in the media center during POWER and look at Pinterest projects together. On most Mondays they would meet up and talk about which Pinterest project they tried and how it turned out, often sharing videos or pictures of the finished product. I enjoyed listening to their stories and began asking questions and talking to the students about their projects. Soon after, we became the DIY Club.
The DIY Club participants took turns picking projects from Pinterest and they would bring in the necessary supplies for the chosen projects. There was lots of thinking, planning, creating, collaborating and communicating. Students worked with the Art Teacher, the Science Teacher, and others in order to get projects done. Some projects turned out great and some were "Pinterest Fails," BUT the students always learned something and weren't afraid to try new things. They proved to be very persistent risk-takers who problem-solved though failed projects and came out with new skills after completing each new project.
This made my gears turn... What if we had a dedicated area in the library for such projects. I could tie collections of books into each project. Careers, crafts, art, inventions, fiction....
Inspiration to Get Started
Getting Started at SJHS
I found this article from the International Society for Technology in Education helpful. "Create a School Makerspace in Three Simple Steps":
Items Purchased
3D Printer (Makerbot Replicator Mini) & Suppies
Sunprint kit (for crafts)
Arduino Sets & Robot kit & Book
Computer Build Book
Make Magazine Subscription
The printer was purchased at MakerBot and the other items were purchased at MakerShed.
Some items that I have included from home are:
Crafts items
paper towel rolls
art supplies
Legos
Items that we had on hand in the media center that have been useful:
Old desktop computer for computer take apart station
Hot glue gun for crafts
Getting Set Up
3D Printing
Making a Keyboard Out of Play Doh
SJHS Maker Corner
How the Makerspace Operates
Makerspace Resources to Help You Get Started
The Makerspace Playbook School Edition-
Several Resources for Getting Started With Makerspaces. A must have!
http://makered.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makerspace-Playbook-Feb-2013.pdf
Creating Communities Through Makerspaces -
Makerspace Lab -
http://www.makerspacelab.com/Makerspace-Resources_ep_44.html
Lewis and Clark Elementary's Makerspace Info -
https://lc-lps-ca.schoolloop.com/MakerSpace
Maker Community -
Make anything with Instructables -
There are so many resources out there! Pinterest is one of my favorite places to search.
Contact Me
South Johnston High School
Media Coordinator, Tech Contact
EXT. 5523
Email: stephaniehaumont@johnston.k12.nc.us
Phone: 919.894.3146