Educational technology has become a pivotal force in modern pedagogy, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning and real-life experiences. By integrating innovative approaches such as Makerspaces, students gain a deeper understanding of technological processes, enhancing their engagement and creativity.
References French. J, (2016). 'Makerspaces' explode in popularity in schools. Retrieved from https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/makerspaces-explode-in-popularity-in-schools
Hsu, Y.-C., Baldwin, S., & Ching, Y.-H. (2017). Learning through Making and Maker Education. TechTrends.
Hlubinka, M., Dougherty, D., Thomas, P., Chang, S., Hoefer, S., Alexander, I., McGuire, D., Vanderwerff, A. & Scott, B. (2013). Makerspace Playbook (2nd Ed). Retrieved from: https://makered.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makerspace-Playbook-Feb-2013.pdf
Krueger, N. (2017). What happens when kids make their own makerspace? [Web page]. Retrieved from: https://www.iste.org/explore/articleDetail?articleid=892&category=In-the-classroom&article=
Sheridan, K., Halverson, E. R., Litts, B., Brahms, L., Jacobs-Priebe, L., & Owens, T. (2014). Learning in the making: A comparative case study of three makerspaces. Harvard Educational Review, 84(4), 505–531
Slatter, D., & Howard, Z. (2013). A place to make, hack, and learn: makerspaces in Australian public libraries. The Australian Library Journal, 62(4), 272–284
STEAM
Non-Curricular Outcomes
Life Long Learning
Non-Science Based Curriculum
Social Studies
Understanding of Society
ELA
Communication Skills
Flipping the Classroom Upside Down
Learning Styles/Preferences
Real Life Experiences
Limitations
Curriculum
Safety
Subject Knowledge
Teacher Interest
Resources
Accessibility
Budgets
Teacher Training
Physical Space
Augmented Learning
Trades
Processes "Makerspaces show children what makes technology work. It gets them thinking about process."(Pitts, 2018).
Educational Technology
Math/Physics/Engineering "As a math teacher, something I’ve heard talked about is the idea of having students embrace a growth mindset, essentially, that students aren’t simply “math people” or they are; failure is an experience to be learned from and not simply forgotten as soon as they arrive at the proper solution. Students grow into problem solvers in a mathematics classroom and in a Makerspace the same holds true." Mark Antle (2018).
Cross Discipline Potential
Non-traditional classroom
Teacher Creativity
Instructional Design
Project-Based Learning
Hands on Learning "The things I know, really know are things that I have done. Not read, studied, tested. Done." Wayland Dickson (2018).
Experimentation/Transformational Learning "Although this approach is expensive, it may be worth it because the students are engaged in a transformational style of learning, and I immediately thought of how it could be used practically for language learning or tourism. The magnitude of which is only dependent on how far I or students can stretch their imagination and test their limits." Jon Thomas (2018).
Creativity
Making. The Educational Movement Process of creating something (Hsu, Baldwin and Ching, 2017).
