Research Makerspaces - ETEC-568
Introduction
Arduino is a programmable circuit board, and it includes hardware and software. This is an easy-to-use (for most) programmable micro-controlled circuit, which this form of programming can be found in day-to-day lives such as televisions, cellphones, and smart homes, to name a few. We were asked to purchase the classic Arduino kit for our makerspaces course in our graduate studies. We would use these kits to journal via weekly blog posts about our learning to use these electrical engineering beginners' kits. The following link to our Makerspaces Blog is our journey each week as we progressed through the Arduino activity projects, which progressed in difficulty each week. We were challenged to play, learn, and experiment with the Arduino devices as we completed the weekly activity and not to be concerned with completing the activities. As Dr. B. put it, we should "embrace failing forward." So, my makerspaces blog is my journey with my weekly progress working with the Arduino kit, including successes and failures. Visioning a Makerspace Project
Reflection
Reflecting on my makerspace course, blog, and final project experiences was unique, challenging, creative, and meaningful and one that I will never forget. I liked how the beginning of this course challenged us to be the "maker" as we explored the Arduino circuit boards and programming software that I blogged about and linked to my journey above. Then as we became familiar with the maker journey of the makerspace, we were challenged to envision creating a makerspace for our learners in the schools we worked in. This was a fantastic journey as we learned from a maker's progress and journey within a makerspace to progressing as the creator of the makerspace for the learners. Overall, the progress of our learning journeys within this course and the affordances of connecting the maker with the makerspaces movements.