Hello everyone,
We had 12 responses to our WEEK 10 MAKERSPACES survey. Here are the results:
1. How do you define a Makerspace?
- A place where you can make things from what you’ve learnt.
- It is a creative space, where people can gather to create, build, invent and learn.
- I am fairly new to the idea of Makerspaces and have no direct experience with it myself. Our school runs a robotics (STEM) program and they have a large Makerspace that includes 3D printers, shop space and lab space. It is really cool to have a big creative space like this for students to work through different modalities and with different cross-curricular tools. I disagree with the definition provided at the beginning as I understand that Makerspaces are not just for students/children but are popping up for adults too in communities.
- Makerspaces are places where people can go to develop new ideas. These can be physical prototypes like those produced by 3D printers or digital objects created using software. Makerspaces provide both the intellectual environment and the tools to create new products.That’s what makes them innovative,
- A collaborative physical space where ideas and resources are shared to create something new that addresses a societal need or problem.
- A place where innovative individuals can go where the tools, resources and space are provided to help them create.
- A space where a community of individuals share tools and knowledge on how to create projects.
- A place that allows people to experiment and create, possibly with equipment and material that they wouldn’t typically have access to (i.e. 3D printers).
- A place where people come together to work on their own projects. A place where they can share tools, resources and expertise.
- A space where all individuals can come to work, and create while being open to input from others, as well as offering advice and guidance for others around.
- A space where people gather to tinker and create things for fun
- A space (either physical or online) where people with shared interests gather to share ideas, collaborate, and design.
2. How familiar are you with Makerspaces and the Maker Movement?
3. Is there a Makerspace in your workplace?
4. Have you ever participated in a Makerspace?
5. Have you ever created or been part of a team that created a Makerspace?
6. How important do you think Makerspaces are/could be for you in your educational goals?
7. In your opinion, will Makerspaces become common in education in the future?
8. If Yes, to the last question, then how soon do you think we will see a breakout of this style of learning?
9. What significant challenges do you see for implementing a Makerspace at your place of work?
- The lack of funding and training to deliver lessons in such spaces.
- “Purchasing resources
- Encouraging employees to try it
- Building community of makers”
- I find the most significant challenge is the willingness of the Provincial government to look at education differently and to fund education in a different way that allows for students to not be confined to subjects in the senior years (ie. per block funding). The classroom needs to be shifted from biology to sciences and social science and all the things that link together for students to make real world connections based on interests. This is happening more in the tech sector (STEM) but it needs to spread to all subjects. English students could benefit from Makerspaces in a different format, multimedia productions…books are not confined to the written word anymore and poetry takes many forms…we just need to think big and break up the traditional schedule.
- I think providing a space, tools and time for makerspaces will be difficult. Schools change slowly and adjusting the space of schools and the time in students schedules to fully participate in a makerspace can be quite challenging. So likely, it’ll take time.
- “Working in a rehabilitation hospital, I feel the biggest challenge would be to convince senior management that creating a Makerspace
- It would accelerate the generation of ideas/solutions. Silos continue to exist between disciplines that need to be broken down. Front line healthcare workers, researchers and engineers need to be encouraged to work together with the end users to create solutions. Designated makerspaces need to be a part of every organization to tackle the biggest problems. If management could apply the same push that they do for interprofessional collaboration as it pertains to patient care then more digital health solutions could be realized with transdisciplinary collaboration. “
- Some challenges for implementing Makerspace could be funding as well as space. Regarding funding – there needs to be investment up front to provide some materials to get participants started, as people discover the space and if it becomes popular there could be more interest in investing. Also, it looks like there is quite a bit of space needed to have an effective creative environment – finding that space may be a problem in some schools.
- Storage of raw material and projects will be a challenge as I am in Hong Kong and space is limited. In general, space is a premium and most makerspaces require space for tools and work stations, finding the space to accommodate this is always a challenge.
- Hiring the right people to run the space and coach the participants who use the space.
- Resources for research at my university are already stretched to their limits. Also, the approach to education here is very rigid and “top-down” (and unlikely to change any time soon). It’s very unlikely that anyone would approve any type of space where students could explore their interests on their own.
- “Different time availabilities
- Lack of community
- Competitive nature of workplace – not interested in sharing ideas for fear of others taking credit “
- We need more things to tinker with. It’s a very computer-geared space.
- Certain topics lend themselves better to a Makerspace than others. I don’t think it would really be applicable in my place of work.
In addition to the survey, we would like to announce that five participants took part in the Virtual Makerspace – Infoboard activity. As a result, they will be awarded the coveted MASTER MAKER BADGE:
- Brenda
- Colleen
- Joycy
- Laila
- Edwin
Congratulations on being a MASTER MAKER!
We hope you enjoyed our opportunity forecast. Please share your feedback on here.
Thanks,
Craig & Christy