I am doing it!
This school year, starting right off the bat, my high school students can come to the library before school, during their lunch time, or after school to tinker, play, create, invent, improve, engineer, design, code, and dig deeper.
Do I have an exact plan? Do I know how this is going to look by the end of the year, let alone week to week? Do I even know what I am doing??
Nope...but that is ok.
During the first round of ISTE Ignite Sessions this summer, Nicholas Provenzano (@thenerdyteacher) shared something profound. An idea that has lurked at the back of my mind but was pushed back as I felt swamped and overwhelmed with other responsibilities and stuff. He said...are you ready for this?? It just might blow your mind....he said, "Get off your butts and do it! Students can't wait!" (or something very close to that)
And there it is...
Among many other inspirational ideas gathered at ISTE, I decided Nick was right. Every year I wait to make something happen is another graduating class that never had the opportunity to see/try/experience it.
First things first...
Don't get me wrong. I do have a plan of action and have a base-level of information to work with. I was able to hear THE Sylvia Martinez share about the importance of MakerSpaces and am reading the book she co-authored, Invent to Learn. I became friends with Michael Medvinsky and am learning some ways he implements Making into his music curriculum and more. I also am privileged to know and be connected to the one and only Leslie Preddy, AASL President elect and author of School Library MakerSpaces: Grades 6-12.
I told Leslie that I had a baby MakerSpace and wanted it to grow up to be like her Perry Meridian Middle School Library MakerSpace someday. (Note to self: Do NOT ever again refer to this area as a "baby maker space". It might be misunderstood by my high school students and community. LOL)
Where to Start???
I am beginning with the following areas (understanding that most are actually kits/tubs/roller carts and are not actual fulltime stations):
- Take Apart Tech - I have a 13" black and white TV from when I was a kid and one of those old clunker all-in-one computer to start off!
- Upcycling - crafty or useful creations...who knows what might happen here!?!
- Arts and Crafts - starting simple with crafts, jewelry making, and activities that will get kids to try out the area...but someday maybe a kid will create a blinky-light necklace or a craft supply automatic sorter?!?
- Microwave Making - sometimes making something tasty and other times non-food related
- Coding - hour of code, minecraft, 3D printing creations...followed by begging the PLW teacher to let us print our creations....hmm....lots of directions with this one!
- Electronics/Circuitry - starting with kits such as Makey-Makey, LittleBits, or Squishy Circuits
- Video production - I actually already oversee the student news, so this will be extending the equipment and learning to all students.
My Vision
Today, I envision this as a space students can freely come and go. The regular time frame will be before school, during their lunch time, and after school. I hope to offer an official MakerTime (Ooh, just thought of that name and it is perfect! Wonder if I could get one of my musically talented students to turn that into a short theme song to the tune of "Stop! Hammer time!") once a week with a different focus and community expert. Some kits will be locked in my office and checked out on an in-library-use only due to the expense, but the majority of supplies and items will be available easily accessible by students.
Stay Tuned!!
Pictures to come as I am currently putting together my space...which is why I decided now was the perfect time to write down my thoughts. Procrastinator for life!
