MAKERSPACESCynthia Curtis, NBCT

School Library Media Coordinator,

Hanes Magnet School

Winston-Salem, NC

What is a Makerspace?

“A makerspace is a community destination where students—sometimes alongside staff, parents, and mentors– can

create, problem solve, and develop skills, talents, thinking, and mental rigor” ~ Preddy

Why a Makerspace?

Collaboration

Communication

Information Literacy

Media Literacy

Creativity

Technology Literacy

Flexibility

Initiative

Social Skills

Productivity

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Why a Makerspace in the Media Center?

• Standard 1: School Library Media Coordinators Demonstrate Leadership

• Element a. School library media coordinators lead in the school library media center and media program to support student success. School library media coordinators provide leadership for the school library media program. They share responsibility for the progress of all students to ensure that they graduate from high school, are globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and are prepared for life in the 21st Century. They collaboratively create, align, and implement a program informed by state and national guidelines and research-based best practices. They transform the library media center into a 21st Century learning environment (both virtual and physical) and a shared space for knowledge construction, collaboration and inquiry-based learning, and they assist teachers with similar transformations. They coordinate the activities and training of library media support personnel.

Where?

• Small Room• Table/Chairs• Storage (Plastic box or shelves)

When?

•Before or after school•As an elective•Independently with a pass•During lunch•Saturday School

How to begin….

Start simple:• Teacher/Parent/MC teach a craft or skill

• Craft :Crocheting/knitting/cross-stitch• Using tools: screwdrivers (Phillips head vs. flat head), hammers, drills

• Kits with instructions• Freestyle: what can you make out of this??• Take apart: Learning by un-doing

Challenges

• Supplies• Funding: Grants, MC funds• Donations: Parents, Big Box stores, Teachers

• Resilience• Student frustration• Teacher frustration

• Time• When & How much??

Online Resources

• Instructables – http://www.instructables.com• Upcycle Projects -- http://www.upcyclemagazine.com/category/projects

• SparkFun Electronics— http://www.sparkfun.com

• Make Magazine – http://makezine.com

Bibliography• Preddy, Leslie. School Library Makerspaces: Grades 6-

12. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2013. Print.• NC Department Of Public Instruction Instructional Tech

Division. "NC School Library Media Coordinator Standards." Professional Standards. NC Department of Public Instruction. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.