Research Synopsis for Reading Review
https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/makerspace/
In Part A of my reading review I was responsible for developing some keywords and ideas for a topic that I would like to further pursue and broaden my teaching. Amongst the many ideas brainstormed, I decided on the topic of setting up a maker space in a library or learning commons. Part B of my reading review was to collect and highlight some literature that would aide me in my journey. Although I only shared four resources that stuck with me, I have since researched more into my topic.I found a fair number of articles and research pertaining to setting up makerspace in the learning commons/library area. In terms of relevance, I found many had exact topics that I needed, and most had resources within them to delve deeper. Fortunately for me, the topic I choose is a relatively easily researchable one. Googling “makerspaces in libraries” alone, had over 770,000 results.
My topic had many leads to follow. This presented both a challenge and an opportunity. The biggest issue I had come across was to follow the research of either the curricular connections and learning tools or the actual physical set ups and logistics of a space within the library. Picking just one and leaving the other felt like I would be missing a huge piece, but because each section was a huge undertaking to research thoroughly, I picked the curricular connections portion to dive into.
In summary, makerspaces in libraries allow students to have access to resources, exposes students to new opportunities, build a wide range of skills, and having authentic learning moments. The majority mindset behind makerspaces is that it is a safe space to explore, while also tying it into curricular competencies. As stated in Meaningful Making, “More generally, maker pedagogies promote important principles including inquiry, play, imagination, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and personalized learning.” (Hughes). My topic is often talked about with passion and in the form of further learning. There are many benefits to makerspace, for both students and facilitators. The “maker movement” is supposed to allow students to develop skills, exercise persistence, and direct their own learning. In these spaces, collaboration between teacher librarians, teachers, and people out in the real world would be key. Critical thinking skills, peer interaction, social responsibility are all part of BC’s new curriculum, and a makerspace is designed to be able to have students authentically practice these competencies. The idea will be to choose a specific content area for each grade and develop activities for students to complete or create that will connect to the content. My hope in opening up students minds to a goal or outcome and tie it into what the library has as well as a real world application through exploration, students will be eager to broaden their knowledge and use the library. For students that do not consider themselves readers, having makerspaces allows them to be a part of the library and perhaps open new opportunities.
In conclusion, makerspace allows for creative, innovative ways to connect curricular and core competencies, while promoting collaboration and opportunity.
I'll leave you with an inspirational video. WE ARE MAKERS. This will make you get up and want to build something!
Bibliography
"Applied Design, Skills, And Technologies | Building Student Success - BC's New Curriculum". Curriculum.Gov.Bc.Ca, 2016, https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/adst.
Cox, Marge. The Elementary School Library Makerspace: a Start-Up Guide, ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ubc/detail.action?docID=5166388.
Dougherty, Dale. "We Are Makers". Ted.Com, 2011, https://www.ted.com/talks/dale_dougherty_we_are_makers.
Hughes, Janette. "Meaningful Making – Establishing A Makerspace In Your School Or Classroom". Ontario Ministry Of Education, 2017, http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:C2zU8JJ61EMJ:www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/meaningful_making_en.pdf+&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-b-d.
Lamarre, Jessica. "LIBRARY AS MAKERSPACE". Librarymakerspace.Blogspot.Com, 2020, http://librarymakerspace.blogspot.com/.
"Renovated Learning". Renovated Learning, 2020, http://www.renovatedlearning.com/.
"Research Guides: Digital Pedagogy - A Guide For Librarians, Faculty, And Students: Makerspaces". Guides.Library.Utoronto.Ca, 2020, https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/c.php?g=448614&p=3216758.
Taking Making Into Classrooms. 2017, http://www3.sd71.bc.ca/Programs/careerprograms/try-a-trade/Documents/Taking_Making_into_Classrooms.pdf. Accessed 28 Sept 2020.
"The Student Side Of Making". Edutopia, 2020, https://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-student-side-of-making-gayle-allen.
"What Is A Makerspace? Is It A Hackerspace Or A Makerspace?". Makerspaces.Com, 2020, https://www.makerspaces.com/what-is-a-makerspace/.
"Why Your Students Need A Makerspace - The STEM Maker Lab". Invent.Org, 2020, https://www.invent.org/blog/trends-stem/benefits-makerspace.
This is a good post which outlines your thinking, learning, reading and research thus far. If you choose to continue with this topic, you have a strong foundation here for our Future Vision Project. For your next post, you may want to embed hyperlinks within your narrative. For example, in this post where you quote Meaningful Making, you might have created a link that took the reader right to the source.
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