I have been thinking about creating a maker space in our library for a year now, so I as glad to see it as a topic I can explore in this workshop. There is a good space I can use but it will require a major move of books and shelving so I want to have a good plan in place before I present it to administrators.
I was thinking about including a CHECK OUT SCIENCE area where I will supply science experiment kits in a bag that students can check out of the library or do the experiments in the maker space. The kits will include all of the items needed for the experiment and laminated instructions and explanations of the science concept involved.
For example one kit demonstrating air pressure might include a page of a newspaper and a paint stirrer .
The student is instructed to place the newspaper flat on a table , put the paint stirrer half way under the paper and hit the stirrer to make the paper go up. What happens is the stirrer breaks because there is 14.7 lbs per square inch of air pressure pressing on the paper. Students learn science and math, because they can calculate the total amount of air pressing on the paper. This is just one example, but there are hundreds of possibilities.
Another idea for a maker space is to have a dedicated multi media center where students can design using CADD or create videos. I think there is a need for this. These programs are available in some of the classrooms where they are taught, but it would be helpful to have a common area outside of the classroom for students to work. The library is the perfect place, the Learning Commons.
I was thinking about including a CHECK OUT SCIENCE area where I will supply science experiment kits in a bag that students can check out of the library or do the experiments in the maker space. The kits will include all of the items needed for the experiment and laminated instructions and explanations of the science concept involved.
For example one kit demonstrating air pressure might include a page of a newspaper and a paint stirrer .
The student is instructed to place the newspaper flat on a table , put the paint stirrer half way under the paper and hit the stirrer to make the paper go up. What happens is the stirrer breaks because there is 14.7 lbs per square inch of air pressure pressing on the paper. Students learn science and math, because they can calculate the total amount of air pressing on the paper. This is just one example, but there are hundreds of possibilities.
Another idea for a maker space is to have a dedicated multi media center where students can design using CADD or create videos. I think there is a need for this. These programs are available in some of the classrooms where they are taught, but it would be helpful to have a common area outside of the classroom for students to work. The library is the perfect place, the Learning Commons.