[ISLMA-Share] MakerSpaces

Wed Sep 14 11:16:25 CDT 2016

I realize this risks sounding facetious or old fashioned, but this is a serious question: In a building where these resources are already available - which is the case in my building as well - why do we need a Makerspace in the library?

My school, like yours, offers electives in woodworking, STEM (including things like Legos and robotics), art, sewing, and so on. We have books on some of these topics, which we display; we also have books on some crafts that aren’t taught in electives (origami, knitting, duct tape crafts) that we sometimes put out with materials to make those crafts. But in all seriousness, why would we have a robotics kit in the library when students can take a class in robotics? Why would we have a green screen when students can take a TV production class? Certainly those teachers are better qualified than I am to teach kids how to use those materials. If students want to work on independent projects, they’re usually able to do so outside of class time.

I think it’s important to make sure that we are doing things because they are actually important, not just because they’re trendy. (I’m not saying anyone else is doing this - but I sometimes think oh, a makerspace would be so cool and I know that it’s because I saw one in SLJ or on Twitter, not because I actually think it would make a huge difference in my building.) Libraries do so many things that are valuable - so rather than duplicating resources that already exist in our buildings, maybe we should think more about how to improve the services that only libraries can offer.

On Sep 14, 2016, at 10:47 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:

I actually just had a conversation about this with one of our home ec teachers yesterday, because I was concerned.  She actually was not concerned, and we talked about using events to promote signing up for the electives - as in, "if you enjoyed learning some sewing basics, you might really like to take _____ class next year." It could be a way to actually create interest, especially if those teachers could help with events sometimes, or do some tutorials for students.

On Wed, Sep 14, 2016 at 10:16 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
Hi Denise and ISLMA,

I am replying all because many of us may be dealing with this situation. I am in the process of creating a Makerspace for our school and am trying to be mindful of not intruding on the electives classes. Last year, our Choir/Drama teacher’s position was cut because not enough students signed up for those electives. Therefore, I do not want the Makerspace to affect enrollment in Stem or art-related classes. The way I am thinking of managing this is by focusing my Makerspace more on creativity than Stem related activities. We are calling it “Creation Station” and it will have a green screen, a black screen stop-motion center, a brainstorming station (tables with whiteboard paint for writing), a recording station, and a building station (recyclables, clay, Legos, etc).

We are still working out the logistics of how it will be used, but I believe classes will be able to come down as a whole to work on a project in addition to small groups coming down. We may utilize it as a space for students who have finished their work early to come down and work on an extension project. For example, if a student finished his/her work on a novel, they could come down and create a commercial for that book using any of the materials/equipment in the Makerspace.

I would love to hear yours and other’s ideas on this topic, as I was literally just thinking about it when your message came through!

Megan Flaherty
mflaherty at maercker.org<mailto:mflaherty at maercker.org>
Library Media Specialist
Westview Hills Middle School

From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> [mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info>] On Behalf Of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 8:05 AM
To: Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>>
Subject: [ISLMA-Share] MakerSpaces

Hi,

We're a middle school and are in the planning stages of creating a MakerSpace in our library.  We are fortunate to have an extensive elective program that includes Woods, Plastics, all mediums of art, sewing, music, etc.  Some of our elective teachers feel like a MakerSpace intrudes on their curricular area.  If you have experienced similar push back, would you please email me off list and tell me how you were able to work through it?

Thanks in advance,
Denise Reeder

--
Denise Reeder
Library Information Specialist
Lincoln M

iddle School
200 South Lincoln Avenue
Park Ridge, IL  60068
https://sites.google.com/a/d64.org/lincoln-middle-school-lrc
847.318.4220<tel:847.318.4220>

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14/9/2016
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