How To Start a Makerspace

The presentation below demonstrates why and how to integrate maker movement into your classroom or school, via both creating a dedicated "Makerspace" as well as content integration of the "maker" ethos:

• Scroll down for 5 easy steps for starting a Makerspace in your school's media center or other locale. 
• To integrate maker movement into content classes, please see http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/maker-movement-how-to-introduce-a-project-to-students for specific steps and view the presentation for inpsirational photos of integration in math, science, social studies, language arts, and the arts.
  

Unexpected benefit of being a connected educator: @artlaflamme just sent @PiedmontIB a @Raspberry_Pi ! #boxofawesome pic.twitter.com/v94FjG44rp

— Lisa Gurthie (@LisGurthie) March 30, 2015

Click here for Interactive session note sheet from the February CMS Tech Meeting
Click here for  printable QR coded handout 

5 Steps to Starting a Makerspace on a Shoestring Budget:

1. Gather any educational science toys, and creation supplies you now have (cardboard, tape, glue, stop motion video character toys, even an old sewing machine. See here and here for some of what we have at Piedmont) 
2. Include things to both take apart (like an old watch or computer CPU as well as put together (legos)
   
3. Cull some DIY tutorials and print QR code posters like these for items you have gathered or DIY ideas.
   
4. Place items on work tables in the media center,in boxes for checkout to classrooms, or on a coffee table with floor pillows in the lobby.  Have computers nearby for tutorials (if no computers are available, you can place QR codes near items if students have phones or BYOT devices.
   
5. Advertise your new offerings or just wait for curiosity to strike naturally.

Maker-friendly Sites for Students:

• Make -click projects for electronics, workshop, craft, science, food, home and garden crafts and many more.
  
• DIY.org -for all kinds of great maker projects
  
• More Maker Sites for Students 

Free Coding for Students: 

• Scratch - play with code
  
• Code.org -free and fun way to learn coding
  
• Tynker - link goes to the free hour of code tutorials and games
  
• More Coding Sites for Students - includes video game making and app making
• 
  

Free CAD (computer assisted design) for Students:

• TinkerCad drag and drop then export the STL file for your 3D printer 
• Apps also support 3D printing. There's a new one called Draw in 3D that looks amazing!  Or try any from AutoDesk like 123Design 

(Thingiverse great for ready made designs and inspiration. Browse then download the ready-made file with one click to export the STL file. Use Makerware or 3D printer software to open the file)

Robotics, Electronics, Computer Science, Design and Engineering 
Products to consider as you acquire funds:

• Sphero - The apps are free but the codable robotic toys are about $100

• littleBits
  
• Makey Makey
  
• Mindflex Duel or other brain wave controller game
• Snap Circuits 
• K'nex and Legos
  
• Squishy Circuits
  
• 3D printer (we have the Makerbot Replicator 2)
  
• Laser Cutter
• Raspberry Pi
  
• Arduino
• R/C Toys and Drones
  
  

Shop for Techy Maker Supplies

• Makershed.com
  
• Adafruit.com  
• LED Wearables
• for artsy maker supplies, ask your music and art teachers for resources and extras

Inspiring videos, lessons, and ideas:
A few to get you started. Most sites and tools listed above have project lists as well.

• Caine's Arcade -includes info about the "Cardboard Challenge"
  
• Easy PBL Starter idea
  
• Scratch+ MakeyMakey= Language Game 
  

Further Reading for Educators:

• What is a Makerspace?
  
• New Milford High School Maker Blog
  
• and just for fun...a 3D printed cup of coffee 

• Related Posts:
  http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/makerspace-resources4pbl
  http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/whirligigs-an-example-of-maker-movement-in-education
  http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/love-of-learning-at-piedmont
  http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/piedmont-pd/gamification

• http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/maker-movement-how-to-introduce-a-project-to-students
  
  

Twitter Hashtags to Explore:
Also, use these as Google search terms (search your content area keyword/s  plus...)

#makermovement
#geniushour
#dtk12chat
#makered
#3dprinting
#STEAM
#STEM
#engineering
#cardboardchallenge
#PBL
and don't forget...
#artsed #musiced #slowchatpe

Some #makeymakey ideas @pamelaaobrien #Bett2015 #edchatie pic.twitter.com/rTiNR6IbfI

— Bianca Ní Ghrógáin (@bnighrogain) January 23, 2015