Creating a well maintained and complete Makerspace takes money, time, and awareness of the needs of your community. However, on the "Just for Fun" page given to us this week, I looked at this image which gave us a "dream makerspace" check off list:
Looking through this list it is easy to be overwhelmed with the choices. If I used this as an assessment tool in what I currently have in my library, I think I am "beginning" on the proficiency scale. While I could provide my students with some of these activities, the majority of them would be unavailable due to lack of materials, apps, technology. But I do provide is a space for my students to create; limited though it may be.
Evaluating the current state of my library, I do indeed provide my students with a limited number of tools to consume; especially in the area of video production. We have some equipment such as a Green Screen, iPads/cameras, audio equipment, and software such as WeVideo to make and produce movies. We currently have a group of students who use our video equipment to produce The Friday Show which are student generated comedy sketches. We also have the means in which to allow our students to blog, vlog, and podcast. Plenty of computers, Audacity the audio editor, and access to google tools such as Blogger to "blog" and YouTube in order to Vlog. Currently, however, unless the teacher assigns the project, these activities are not actively pursued by my students. The rest of the above check off list, would, for the most part, be blank. I am sad to say, our students have minimal materials to work with in order to consume. They also don't see the library as a place to produce anything so this would require a major mind shift for both the students and myself in the area of seeing the library for it's potential in providing them with lots of opportunities.
As my education expands and I become exposed to new ideas surrounding the library I hope to put into place a belief that the Library is so much more than a space to read. I have started to do that by changing the name of the library. We are called the Spaulding High School Library and Learning Space. As stated before, I am in the process of creating a 3-5 year plan, putting into place the suggestions garnered by my students and educators. Last month, I conducted a survey on their needs and wants. It was eye opening and I plan on making sure that our students have many of the learning opportunities they suggested such as a cafe seating area and a place for them to create. I will also give them more input as we move forward because I truly want it to be a space of activity. I look at the above list and I see the endless possibilities that can occur in this new space. It will be about the ability for me to design, advocate for, and find the funding for a Makerspace that is suitable for our community. It is a very exciting prospect.
Maker Space List Citation:
Young, Cari. "Makerspace Shopping List - Library Learners." Library Learners. Library Learners, 23 June 2014. Web. 12 June 2016.
Yes, that list of "What's in your dream makerspace" it totally overwhelming. It would take a huge budget and a staff member or two just to manage it. As stated in your post, you do support the creation of content - blogging, vlogging, podcasting etc. If you decide to embrace the makerspace concept, you can do ti slowly, a stack of books on origami, next to a pile of oragami papers for example. Nice job.
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