STEAM

7 Tips for Planning a Makerspace

Districts with multiple makerspaces describe what works.

An increasing number of K-12 schools are transforming classrooms, libraries or other spaces into Informal workshop environments where students can tinker or invent, and with good reason. According to The NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2016 K-12 Edition, "Makerspaces are also increasing student exposure to STEM subjects and technical disciplines. Learners are applying maker skills to address some of the world's pressing challenges with innovative solutions."

But how do makerspaces get started? THE Journal spoke with several experts, who shared their insights into the makerspace planning phase — not just designing or equipping the space itself but preparing the students and staff so that they're able to make the best possible use of it.

1. Use Any Available Space

Almost any space in a school can be repurposed as a makerspace. Harmony Public Schools in Texas has created makerspaces in several of its schools. One merged two classrooms into a single space to house an physics lab together with a makerspace, while another did the same thing to create a hybrid engineering lab and makerspace.

Yet another school in the district converted a storage room into a library and makerspace. The school district is also repurposing a 4,000 square foot storage space next to its central office into a makerspace that will serve several schools. Some other districts have created makerspaces in school libraries.

"Any space can be turned into makerspace," said Mehmet Gokcek, the STEM/PBL curriculum developer at Harmony Public Schools.

2. Create an Active Space for Making

While a maker culture can exist in virtually any space, it thrives in an open and active learning environment. "It's better to have a large, open space for kids to work freely through guided inquiries," Yilmaz said. "Students are going to have different teams working on different projects, or in different phases of the same project, and a large open space really helps increase their productivity and creativity."

Winnetka Public Schools in Illinois changed out the furniture in all of its makerspaces to make it more flexible. "We have chairs on wheels and desks that flip up and nest, tables that flip and nest and can be rolled out of the way, or stacked so that you can just have a wide open space or you can have tables for kids to collaborate at," said Maureen Miller, director of technology.

3. Establish a Maker Culture

The space itself is not as important as establishing a maker mindset, according to Winnetka's Miller. "It's really just teaching kids that it's okay to tinker and play and to problem solve, and to build those other skills of collaboration and communication and critical thinking," Miller said. "The space helps, but it really doesn't matter."

Montour School District in McKees Rocks, PA has focused on establishing a maker culture and developed a purpose statement to help keep everybody on the same page. The district's purpose statement is "to establish and support a maker culture through 21st century resources linked to Montour's curriculum to provide students with authentic learning experiences," said Justin Aglio, director of innovation for the district.

A makerspace at Montour School District in McKees Rocks, PA. (Image courtesy of Justin Aglio.)

4. Visit Other Makerspaces

To get ideas for establishing a school makerspace or maker culture, Miller suggests visiting established makerspaces in other schools, universities, public libraries and museums. "There are so many different opportunities to see makerspaces in action now," she said.