Blog #6 Makerspaces & Second Technology Share (ISCI 761: Module 11)

    In the library where I currently work, the librarian and I are always looking for makerspaces to have available to students. We have done many different makerspaces and some have worked better than others. The best one we have done is ordering a huge poster that the kids would come in to color during their free time. This was inexpensive and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. I would say that school librarians are always looking for new ideas that are cost-efficient because you never know whether students are going to participate or not. The blog that I found to be very helpful is Don’t Shush Me! Adventures of a 21st century High School Librarian, by Kelsey Bogan. She wrote a blog Low Tech Makerspace in the H.S. Library gave great insight into finding/creating makerspaces that would enhance the library. She expressed that before entering the library, things were not very vibrant and students were not attending the library for any reason other than for checking out books and finding resources for class projects/assignments. She created an initial needs assessment survey for students, administrators, and teachers to complete to give her an idea of what needed to be improved in the library. After the survey, she applied for a grant and won $1000 to purchase games and activities for the library (Bogan, 2021). 

    I feel that Kelsey Bogan’s blog is worth sharing because it shows the amount of effort it takes to create a fun and inviting library space. “Maker spaces promote learning through play; have the potential to demystify science, math, technology, and engineering” (The Digital Shift, 2012). With this goal in mind, Kelsey wanted to utilize the survey to know what was needed or wanted from the library. She also saw that having makerspaces allowed the students to be more interactive and it gave them a mental break. “[She] knew that building the library into a place that made intentional space for students to care for their mental health through creative, low stress, empowering activities and low stakes social connectivity, that would be a way for the library to truly make a difference in their lives” (Bogan, 2021). Along with managing a budget to purchase materials for the school library, I feel that Kelsey’s ideas for a starting point in a school library program are phenomenal. Creating a community space will open the door to students, teachers, and administrators. From my experience, there is always going to be trial and error when trying to interest students. Some students prefer different types of makerspaces to others.

Link to Don’t Shush Me! Adventures of a 21st century High School Librarian: Low Tech Makerspace in the H.S. Library: https://dontyoushushme.com/2021/11/16/low-tech-makerspace-in-the-h-s-library/

An infographic that I created for ideas on makerspaces in the library.

Here is a sample survey I created as an example of what School Librarians can use to get an idea of what students may want to see in their library.

Here is a technology share on DiscusKids.

References

Bogan, K. (2021, November 16). Low Tech Makerspace in the H.S. Library. Don’t Shush Me! https://dontyoushushme.com/2021/11/16/low-tech-makerspace-in-the-h-s-library/

The Digital Shift. (2012). The Makings of Maker Spaces, Part 1: Space for Creation, Not Just Consumption. http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/10/public-services/the-makings-of-maker-spaces-part