[CASL-L] Maker Space: making it happen

[Luddy, Jean]

Hi everyone,
     We opened our maker space in September after planning for about a year. The leisure reading area with magazines and comfy chairs was moved into the former reference space. The former leisure reading area was enclosed to make the new space.
      We have a mixture of introductory robotics: Little Bits, Makey Makey, Lego Mindstorms robots, Legos, and Squishy Circuits. We offer such crafts as duct tape projects, paper crafts, yarn, paints and making things from recycled objects. We also got an electronic paper cutter which has been very popular.
      At present, we have more girls using the space than boys: crafting and the Girls in STEM day. Our next goal is to attract more boys.
      Here are a few resources that were very helpful in planning and organizing the maker space.

    Make Magazine Maker Space Playbook http://makered.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makerspace-Playbook-Feb-2013.pdf
    Blog from Kristin Fontichiaro http://www.fontichiaro.com/activelearning/
    Invent to Learn by Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager  978-0989151108
    School Library Maker Spaces by Leslie Preddy    978-1610694940

         Just like each school is unique, each maker space should reflect what the students want. With so many exciting ideas out there, the establishment of a maker space is the first step on an exciting journey.
        Maybe we can all go on road trips to visit different school maker spaces. Feel free to contact me off the listserv with questions.
              Jean


Jean Luddy
Library Media Specialist
South Windsor High School
860-474-1456
________________________________
From: CASL-L [casl-l-bounces at mylist.net] on behalf of Titus, JoAnn [TitusJ at plainfieldschools.org]
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 8:02 AM
To: 'casl-l at mylist.net'
Subject: [CASL-L] Maker Space: making it happen

Hi All,
I am looking at my library and trying to sculpt out a space for a “Maker Space”.
I have gathered a few materials like legos, and some circuitry/ robotics.
My question is: if you have a space like this, how did you introduce and break it out in your space?

Thanks,
JoAnn
Library Media Specialist
Student Council Advisor
Plainfield High School

Search for media in our library from this site:
http://plainfieldschools.follettdestiny.com<http://plainfieldschools.follettdestiny.com/>

Just read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline.  Great book!
Currently reading All the light we cannot see