W7 - What are the rules for your makerspace?
I really like this quote from the reading: “When you don’t know what is impossible, you are inclined to think that anything is possible.”(Martinez & Stager) Beyond the reading for this week I looked to the local Anchorage maker space to see how they set it up and manage it. First of all I like that in order to have elevated privileges like 24/7 access, and using certain pieces of equipment requires a membership. The membership establishes an agreement on how the space will be used, this would be a useful approach in the classroom as well. I am reminded of
Papert’s Eight Big Ideas as a general rule set for a maker space
2. Technology as building material – if you can use technology to make things you can make more interesting things.
3. Have fun – we learn and work best if we enjoy what we are doing.
4. Learning to learn – nobody can teach you everything you need to know. You have to take charge of your own learning.
5. Taking time- you have to learn to manage time for yourself.
6. You can’t get it right without getting it wrong – things do not always work the first time.
7. Do unto ourselves what we do unto our students – let students see us struggle to learn.
8. Entering a digital world – learning about computers is important, but using them to learn about everything else is important.
The caution is not to set too many rules as to restrict the creative and open environment, there should be a conscious effort to celebrate and welcome the creation process. This can be tricky to accomplish and can vary depending on age of students and how much guided support or equipment responsibility is needed. When doing anything with a student, I would argue safety is always a top priority and should be introduced right away, now the safety conversation can be very different for a coding maker space vs. machine shop but never the less, how to operate and maintain equipment safely should be covered. This includes how to wear the proper PPE when necessary and what to do is something goes wrong. I am a huge fan of having a playbook and depending on your space, equipment and goals the guideline could vary. I love simplicity so I usually keep it to three things this is what I have landed on for a hypothetical maker space rules mantra:
Do no harm to yourself, others and your resources.
Learn by doing...from your mistakes and successes.
Keep making awesome with your attitude and the things you make.
Papert's Big Ideas. (n.d.). Retrieved July 16, 2019, from http://www.makerspaceforeducation.com/paperts-big-ideas.html
MARTINEZ, SYLVIA LIBOW. STAGER, GARY S. (2019). INVENT TO LEARN: Making, tinkering, and engineering in the classroom. S.l.: CONSTRUCTING MODERN KNOWL.