I Just Need a Portable Makerspace
- Paige Dersham
- Jul 15, 2015
- 2 min read
This is the story of changing my classroom environment all because I wanted space for kids to explore and collaborate. It will be a major focus of this blog as the work continues.
Documenting the Creation of the Exploration and Learning Hub - Part 1
For the past several years I have tried to create opportunity for my 5th graders to create, build, and explore. I created projects skeletons that they could run with in areas like rocketry, flight, solar power, pop-up books, scratch programming, and robotics. These projects are done at home and at school. I provide most of the materials they need and the tools needed to build. We meet at lunch to problem solve, collaborate, build, and create. During lunch it was not unusual to see 15 or so kids working on various projects with others, alone, or with me. Unfortunately even if we ate in class while we worked this only gave us 45 minutes to get materials out, work, and clean up. We had to put everything away so I could teach my afternoon class. So project work had to stop even if someone was in the middle of something wonderful. Lack of space in my room meant projects got put in lockers and tools were put away in cabinets. This was frustrating for everyone. I also found that the tool I needed at home was always at school or vice versa. We needed a solution!
I started planning and drawing up ideas for a portable makerspace that we could use for our exploration. It would have a variety of materials and tools dedicated to the classroom. It would also have some space to house the projects that were in progress. I wanted it to be on wheels so it could move to the hall or some other space and would be able to be tucked in the corner when not in use. Lastly, I wanted it to house a 3D printer. I needed money and someone to help me think through my design.
Through Project CamOpener I had had gotten hooked up with the Imaginarium department. I decided to take my portable maker station idea to their January UnPD and pitch it. I hoped to find another teacher to collaborate with on this idea to make it become reality. I did not find another teacher to work with but I did have the opportunity to brainstorm my ideas with 2 people who were from central office positions, including Peter.
What I learned from them, Peter, especially was that I needed to think and dream bigger. I think as teachers we don’t think big as we live with the constraints of money and resources. We tend to write small grants or just spend our own money. So the projects stay small. I realized that innovation requires thinking big and outside the box, with money not the limiting factor. A lesson that I am still learning as this project continues.
Bình luận