Building a New Makerspace – Resources
I was recently asked to give a presentation and makerspace tour for a learning environment conference hosted at my school. The audience was architects, furnishing sellers, edtech distributors and Virginia educators currently in the process of planning new building construction and major renovations. I assembled a short list of resources that I thought would be valuable in the process.
Please leave a comment saying what resources you would add or remove from this list.
Reference Guide 6 page summary ($) – Consider this the SparkNotes guide to makerspace planning suitable for principals, school board, PTA, board of supervisors. Covers lots of ground in 6 pages for folks that aren’t going to read a whole book.
-Making and Makerspaces in Education https://www.nprinc.com/making-and-makerspaces-in-education/
Essential Reading List
-Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom 2nd Ed. https://www.amazon.com/Invent-Learn-Tinkering-Engineering-Classroom/dp/0997554371/
-Meaningful Making: Projects and Inspirations for FabLabs and Makerspaces, vol 1& 2 https://fablearn.org/fellows/meaningful-making-book/
-The Space: A Guide For Educators https://www.amazon.com/Space-Educators-Rebecca-Louise-Hare/dp/1945167017/
-Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Space-Stage-Creative-Collaboration/dp/1118143728
-Safer Makerspaces, Fab Labs, and STEM Labs: A Collaborative Guide https://www.flinnsci.com/safer-makerspaces-fab-labs-and-stem-labs-a-collaborative-guide/ap9964/
Makerspace Playbook
https://makered.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makerspace-Playbook-Feb-2013.pdf
Starting a FabLab
https://fabfoundation.org/getting-started/#fab-lab-questions
CTE Makeover Challenge Bootcamp
http://www.ctemakeoverchallenge.com/cte-makeover-bootcamp/
MIT Edgerton Center: Makerspace Resources for K12 Educators
http://k12maker.mit.edu/
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Virginia DOE Safety Resources
-VDOE Safety in Science Teaching (2018)
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/science/index.shtml
-The Safety Best Practice Guide for CTE
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/career_technical/technology/index.shtml
I would add a section of actual people and the makerspace they are running. Include a 360 degree video tour and some type of description of the space and how it is used and by what clientele. It’s much easier to identify like minded operators with your group’s vision. Then mash up the best of the best.