LIBE 477 - Reading Review Part C

 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.

 

 

 

 

 

LIBE 477 Reading Review Part B: Research and Data

Typing makerspace into the UBC library retrieves 15,696 results. Oh boy! My search for some resources to inform my knowledge was starting off with a massive pile to sort through. I thought I would start by looking at makerspaces in libraries, seeing as that is the place, I would potentially set one up. These are the resources, or stepping stones, I've found to guide me on my journey.

 

Stepping Stone 1:The Elementary School Library Makerspace: a Start-Up Guide

 

Right out of the gate, I find a useful book. A start up guide for starting a makerspace in an elementary school classroom. Setting aside that this makerspace guide is designed for American classrooms, it has a pretty good selection of topics. I like that one of the reasons they give for having a librarian start a makerspace is the opportunity to show the "breadth and depth" of the library. The book breaks up into chapters about each curricular connection, funding your space and next steps after you have assessed your space.

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.

 Stepping Stone 2: Taking Making into Classrooms

 

Who knew there was an entire toolkit by the BC Ministry of Education for makerspaces in classrooms? Resource two is this lovely little PDF that goes over the "maker movement", making connections, parts of makerspace learning, setting up challenges, assessing your space and how to set up a makerspace in your current configuration. The best thing about this little pdf? Section 11 gives you a huge list of further resources to investigate! This is a great resource because it connects to an OPENSCHOOL BC course to which you can get certificates for completing.

 

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.

 

Stepping Stone 3: Library as a Makerspace

Moving from articles and books, I decided to check out library makerspace blogs. There are a lot. This blog is mainly a mass contribution page where multiple teachers, and librarians are putting ideas and projects out for others to use. The blog, which run by the Duxbury Free Library, is in the process of moving to a "content collection" site to a "content creation" site. The main author also posts about her podcasts that she does about makerspaces which is a nice new resource to follow up on. I like that this one is constantly updated.

 

Lamarre, Jessica. "LIBRARY AS MAKERSPACE". Librarymakerspace.Blogspot.Com, 2020, http://librarymakerspace.blogspot.com/.

 Stepping Stone 4: Renovated Learning - Our Makerspace Journey

This is a great resource! This site is started by a teacher librarian who works at a school library in Tampa Florida, she has transformed two libraries into a makerspace and shared her work on her site, blog and through presentations. This website is great because she walks you through the beginning of starting a space, what is needed, how to advocate and defining what the space will be. She provides resources to grow, and rethink as an educator throughout the journey. 

"Renovated Learning". Renovated Learning, 2020, http://www.renovatedlearning.com/.

  

All in all, I would say I have a pretty good little collection to start my research moving forward on makerspaces. I am excited to dive in and see what is next!