Week 3 Discussion - ETEC-568
Introduction
This artifact is a discussion post where we had been reading the makerspaces manual. We were instructed to discuss anything related to the makerspaces, share ideas, ask questions, and chat with each other about the course.Week 3 Discussion Board
As I was reading this week and reviewing some of the makerspace materials I have obtained since the beginning of this course, like the Makerspaces Playbook, I have been reading more about the strategies for stocking up on these materials. This is very helpful, especially when you are at a school or district that does not have funding to provide for such essential items directly. I like how it mentions ensuring you have someone in line to show others how to use especially expensive items, like 3D printers or laser cutting. This is important to me because our college district purchased expensive equipment for our science areas, and no one knew how to use the equipment. Then, the college had to find money in the budget to pay the vendor of the science equipment to train the faculty and staff how to use it before we could work with our students on the equipment. Additionally, I liked how the playbook mentions starting out small such as starting with concentrating on making one or two items to begin with, and then once your makerspace area grows and is better equipped with tools and materials to attempt, then working on projects that are more robust in nature with the students.
One the section about roles in the playbook, I like to part it mentions roles. Mentors are an excellent resource for makerspaces. Students in college are often required to do service learning for various courses they take for their first 60 college credit hours. A college student could be a mentor, and it would be accepted as service-learning hours for their college course credits to spend time in a makerspace area at another school in their neck of the woods. What a great benefit and resource for both sets of students to have meaningful learning experiences! Just a thought.
Reflection
Reflecting on the makerspaces course, I had never heard of makerspaces before this course. This course was a challenging and meaningful learning experience as I continued to learn more about makerspaces.