Mobile Makerspaces

I would consider our mobile makerspace project a success at both the Middle School and Mindess School!  I had a blast watching our students interact, collaborate, and literally "make" things.  The excitement on the younger students' faces when they could problem solve combined with the excitement on the older students' faces when they could tell that they offered a helping hand was inspiring.  I hope that all students felt inspired and motivated to continue to be involved and creative next year.

In my continual research and Googling of makerspace projects, I came across some interesting mobile ideas I wanted to share.  I found a few other schools who have embraced the mobile makerspace concept, usually in the form of carts that can be moved around schools.  I liked this particular school's model because they have a presentation element- what a great way for students across districts to potentially connect!

Another idea I came across was the idea of a makerspace truck!  This innovative and mobile idea allows students to come aboard into a makerspace world on a truck or van.  I absolutely love this concept and think students would find it just as fun.  Here is one truck, which they call a "Geekbus," and here is another example of a STEAM truck.

Looking forward to see where our project goes next!

Students Having Fun!

We started our second Mobile Makerspace program last week. This time we moved our program to the local 3-5 elementary school. Our goal was similar: Introduce young students to circuits. We had ten girls and ten boys show up on day one, as well as our five Makerspace Mentors (high school volunteer leaders) and our adult supervisor.


I could tell you how well it went, and how amazing the students all were, but instead I will let you read it from the email of one of our Mentors...

Makerspace first impressions

When Mr. McGowan first approached me about this project, I didn't really know what it would entail, but I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what a makerspace was, and as Mr. McGowan explained it to me, all I could see was incredible opportunity and potential.  As I Googled what a makerspace was, I could see the various set ups and uses different schools had and started to think about how flexible the idea was... which is an ideal situation for figuring out how this could work in our community and in our schools.  

In a time where we are constantly using buzzwords such as "Common Core" and "standardized testing," we need to remember to give students time to be kids.  This is what was so appealing to me about the makerspace- the basic concept encouraged kids to invent, be creative, explore.  In the makerspace, they can use their innovation and problem solving skills to literally have a space to just make things.  It's an incredible concept! 

Our first few weeks bringing the mobile makerspace to Ashland Middle School was extremely successful.  I enjoyed seeing the creativity students were using as they learned about circuits and came up with their own project ideas.  I think the most powerful part of our program so far is the collaboration between students across grade levels.  Our high school students, the Makerspace Mentors, took an active approach to working with the middle school students, showing them how parts worked and encouraging their ideas.  It was inspiring to see our high school students turn into teachers through hands on demonstrations and explaining to students how things worked.  I was especially impressed at how the high school students could articulate to the middle school students the technicalities and potential of the kits they were using, instead of merely telling them what to do.  It was a true learning opportunity on both sides!

I don't know what types of projects the Mindess Elementary School students will come up with in our next session, but I know everyone will have fun and will leave wanting more.   Thank you to all of our supporters- we can't wait to continue to show you what fun everyone is having!

Our Mini Mobile Makerspace Kit

Based on some requests, I am posting a guide to the kit we put together for the Middle School Mobile Makerspace session. Each kit was designed for four kids to use with enough batteries and parts such that each could have at least one set. I purchased everything loose from Amazon. We also used Light Up Edison kits to explore the basics of circuits, from Eduporium.com.

Please feel free to ask questions through comments or via Twitter @ashlandtechteacher

The Kit

Mini storage container (Stack-on 13 compartment)
9V batteries
Button cell batteries
Battery connectors
Alligator clip leads
Wires with a mix of male & female connectors
Buzzers
Push buttons (toggle & temporary)
Switches
LEDs
Copper tape (3' per participant)

In addition to the kit supplies we brought a spare parts kit, scissors, plyers, various types of heavy weight paper (chipboard, railroad board, card stock), fabric scraps, lots of tape, glue guns, a heavy duty hole punch, and screwdrivers.

PS - It turned out that the students really liked working with the button batteries and ended up going through almost twice as many as we put in the student kits.

Pilot Program - The Mobile Makerspace

Two participants create while guided by a Makerspace Mentor

Within weeks of developing ideas for our permanent space, it was clear we didn't have the patience to wait for full funding, remodeling, etc. We felt we had something critical to offer our community and the team was ready to make it happen. To fast track our vision and meet the interests of our district schools, we came up with the idea of launching a mobile makerspace. This would give our Makerspace Mentors (high school students) an opportunity to pilot and learn what it is we are doing and what it is we don't yet know.

We devised a plan for two three-week sessions. These sessions would run more like a workshop, where we bring all of the materials, present some concepts and let the students guide things in a direction. Both sessions will