Makerspace is a constructive and constructionist movement that is taking the world by storm. Imagine DIY meets education. Makerspace is not only a hackshop where you can go to learn how to use an arc welder for the afternoon, but an educational concept as well. A makerspace presents readily-available materials that can act as a provocation for inquiry, as well as modern technology and items to invent with.
A place where people can come together to use, and learn to use, materials. Makerspaces promote learning through play and can be created in a classroom, a library or even in a stand-alone building. The important idea is that it is a place that can be used for a range of activities with changing and flexible educational goals and creative purposes.
A makerspace can be as high-tech or low-tech as desired. The important factor is to provide a safe, collaborative environment. Furniture and equipment should be flexible and durable, enabling student-teacher movement and task-transitioning. Furnishings should also allow for enhanced organization of various objects (e.g. peg boards for hanging tools). If your makerspace is high-tech, furnishings should provide options to charge tools and devices.
There are plenty of reasons why teachers would want a makerspace in their classrooms. Once we understand that a makerspace isn’t limited to certain materials, it gets easier to see how a makerspace could be incorporated into any classroom.
