Makerspace Wishlist

When you start a Makerspace, there are so many things to consider.  When I was starting mine I did a lot of reseach to see what kind of technology and supplies people have in theirs.  Now I call this a wishlist, because I do now have most of these things and also because you really do not need all of this to have a true Makerspace.  Making can happen with cardboard and tape, so do not feel obligated to go out and purchase everything.  Think about your budget, mission and space... Then get the basics and build up from there.  

This list was made by myself and some colleagues in the district.  I included prices.  Many of these items are available through their company websites or Amazon.  Please leave comments with other things I have not included.  I am always on the look out for new materials and tools to try and include in our Makerspace.  Happy making!

Electronics, Robotics, Programming

• Little Bits Deluxe Kit $199.99
• CanaKit Raspberry Pie Kit 2 $84.99
• Snap Circuits Student Electronics Training Program $149.95
• Makey Makey $49.99
• Squishy Circuits Kit $25
• Bee-Bot Hive $599.95
• Bee-Bot Mats $49.95
• Sphero 2.0 App Controlled Robotic Ball $129.99
• Ollie by Sphero $99.99

Engineering, Creation, DIY

• Osmo Gaming System for iPad $79.99
• Lego Story Starter Classroom Pack $699.95
• Lego Green 10x10 Building Plate (multiple to create a Lego Wall) $7.99 each
• Lego Education Brick Set 4579793 $54.95
• 3Doodler 2.0 $99.99
• 3Doodler Plastic Pack Essentials $9.99
• iSense 3D Scanner $499.99
• Chromakey Green Screen Kit 800w $119.99

Starting a Makerspace

I was invited to a Twitter chat on personalized learning one day.  As a newbie to Twitter I wasn't sure what that exactly meant, but I gave it a try.  Wow, was that an eye opening experience.  I got wind of this thing people were starting in classrooms and have been evolving called "Makerspace" and had to learn more.  After completing some research I knew this was something our team needed.  I started thinking of where in our room it would fit, how I could find affordable materials and created a pinterest board full of STEM type ideas.  I used eBay to buy a Tinker Toys and Lego blocks For a reasonable price.  Items like cardboard, yarn, craft stuff, etc. was saved up to have n the space.  Then  classroom materials were reorganized to open up a shelving unit.  Over spring break I rearranged the room to allow for a corner of the room to be our Makerspace.  

Once the students came back to school they are very intrigued by these changes.  We watched a Kid President video on being an inventor and they watched a little Haiku Deck slideshow on expectations.    We let them choose a partner and then put two pairs together, to make groups of four students.  

Now that they were introduced to the Makerspace and had a group, they were presented with their first challenge.  From other blog inspirations we got the idea to first have them make a name tag to be utilized in the Makerspace.  Plastic name holders, blank paper, coloring utensils and various strings were in the area and they were told the requirements.  They had to make a name tag with a plastic holder, and it had to be a necklace.  This was quite a challenge for them.  Tying knots, figuring out the right size and other road blocks came up.  However perseverance and problem solving had been such a big part of our team's culture from our weekly computer coding that most of them managed this challenge well.  

After they had name tags we went to our schedule.  To get them inspired we made a big  Their first time was free exploration.  They could choose one material they wanted to work with and build.

Scheduling was a bit of a step and I will discuss that in my next post. 

Below are pictures of the environment we have created.

This is the area.

This is our inspiration cloud.

Supplies are organized in these containers.

Digital Learning Day & Mercer Mayer

At my school we have different committees of teachers that focus in various things.  I am part of our technology committee.  We have been trying to develop our committee and focus on new ways to use technology to improve our school.  

Over the summer I attended a class.  The keynote speaker was a technology and teacher librarian.  She has done so many innovative things at her school.  One of which was getting her students connected to a Mercer Mayer via Skype.  I kept this in my head and knew it was something our committee had to at least try to make happen.  

As the year started and went on we began planning events and activities for Digital Learning Day.  In early December we decided to give it a try and reached out to a Mercer Mayer.  Within days he got back to us and we set up a Skype session for our whole school to participate in on Digital Learning Day.  This past Wednesday was Digital a Learning Day and at 10:00 on the nose we sat in our lunch room and the greatest thing happened... We got to Skype with him.  He answered student's questions, read us a story and taught is how to draw Little Critters.  It was remarkable.  I am still amazed at how welcoming and warm he was with our school.

Following this we used Scribble Press to write wordless books, inspired by is first book.  We also watched a recording of how to draw the Little Critters and gave it our best shot.  The students tweeted him thanking and he tweeted back.  Digital Learning Day was successful.  We built relationships with well known authors, learned a bit about social media and got to connect with Mercer Mayer.