Thing 23: Makerspaces

     I have been interested in Makerspaces for quite a while now. My library isn't perfect as far as layout, but I want to give it a try. Hopefully, working on this lesson will help me to get it going.

     The first thing I did was to read through the blog post and watch the video:

What is a Maker or Innovation Space?

Next, I read the article: 

Stop, hey, what’s that sound… Maker Spaces are Going Round

I liked several of the points in the article because I realized a space doesn't have to be too tech-heavy. I can start simply and feel out what students and staff would like.  :) That sounds good.

     I have picked my space - the study room off the library and have had one wall painted with Idea Paint so that it is one large whiteboard. See the picture below which is its first creative use.  :)

Drawing by Alyssa Sta. Ageuda, CPCS student

   

  I participated in the edWeb webinar, February 17th by Leslie Preddy called:

 Makerspaces: The Now Revolution in School Libraries!

I enjoyed that hour and spent a lot of time jotting down ideas as she presented.  Again, it made me feel like I can handle this by starting small-ish and working my way along. 

     I have decided to email teachers about the supplies I am getting together so they know. I will also ask about ideas they have for using the space and what I can help with to get their ideas into actions. I will also email the same information to my middle school and high school students. My plan is to also ask for donations of certain items for upcycling and recycling purposes. But, I am waiting on that until I better understand how much use the space may get.  I am also working on developing a Google form to get information about what the school would like as far as guided  offerings in the space.  That I will send out as soon as our mid-winter break ends. 

     I pulled out an old large metal cart that will serve as our storage unit and bought 12 plastic bins that will sit nicely on the shelves. As far as materials, I have gotten lots of art supplies, markers galore for the whitewall, wikki stix, a 3D pen and filament, small spirographs, a makey makey kit, several units of littleBits kits, and lots of legos.

      Next week, I am starting (I know, whack me on the head, another online course when I can't even keep up with this one...) a free online course in littleBits use and creation (http://littlebits.cc/invent-anything ) called "Learn How to #Inventanything" so that I can show my kids how to do this. I am very excited about learning enough to get the kids going.  

    I have purchased several books on Makerspaces and Tinkering and will have those as references when needed.  I also hope to create several pathfinders on topics that our students are interested in once I send out my Google form to them. last, I will add to my whitewall a "wish list/what I want to do" corner so the kids can make suggestions and give feedback as they work.  There will also be a supplies used area.  That is it for now!  :)

           Thing 22: Create a Resource Guide

    After reading the material on the Cool Tools post, I decided that I would try to do this using a tool that I had not worked much with before ~ that eliminated ScoopIt and Pinterest where I already have curated lots of materials and continue to gather great stuff for my teachers (the links go to my boards). Both of those collections are very general and for any and all teachers. 

Here is how things went.

Step 1: Audience

     It took me a while to decide for whom I should create a resource guide. I thought my ELA people, who are good library users and quite open-minded about trying new things, would be a good choice. I am focusing on the middle school/high school teachers for now (that is grades 5-12). 

Step 2: Tool for sharing

     I ended up deciding to set up a Google+ Community. We are a Google school; and even within my small ELA group there is a wide range of comfort levels as far as technology. I decided to go with what they know (or know better). Another factor is that it is easier to find information that we read.. First, there are not as many posts to deal with and to try to recall. Second, the community's posts are searchable. That little tidbit I didn't even know about until Polly mentioned it to me ~ thanks for that!!  :)  And, third,with Google+ it is easy for us to comment on each others posts, if the members choose to do that. The members of the group can also share,too. It does not all have to come from me.  Right now, the community is a private one, but I am planning to change it to public community just to see what the difference is.  

Step 3: Resource Gathering

     I am constantly watching Facebook and Twitter posts for educational resources for all of my staff. I have professional accounts for both to make it easier to find and follow what I want.   For the past few weeks, I have been more conscientious about keeping an eye out for ELA materials. Although I found some, I ended up going to Edutopia and Educational Technology and Mobile Learning and even Googling some resources to start.  Once you find some, then BOOM - off you go and there are lots! 

Step 4: Share, Promote, Maintain!

     Once I made my decision about the tool to use, I emailed the people and asked them if they would be willing to do this. With Google Communities, people are invited to be members. Next, I set up the community called Engaging ELA and invited the participants to join. All have done so. Twice, I have sent out an email with a message about adding some new resources. We are now on a mid-winter break and I may not hear much.  With most of the blogs and other such things I follow, there are "share" buttons to quickly and easily share information to Google (or Facebook or Twitter). Once there, I just click the Community that I want to share it with (as opposed to sharing it with one of my Circles) and the resource is posted.  I am trying to remember to add hashtags to the posts so they are even more easily searchable.  That takes practice!  :) I will invite you, Polly, to the group so that you can see what I have shared so far.  

     Hooray, I am done with this blog post and now will just be maintaining my Engaging ELA guide!