+
|
Define your educational and experiential goals
Launch the design of a Makerspace by determining the intended audience and range of uses before starting to lay out the space or select tools. Identify the educational goals and types of activities anticipated (individual creations, large projects, robotics competitions, etc.). Think about the kinds of experiences you want the students to have – collaborative, validating, hi-tech, inspiring – and think of how other spaces create that feeling. While other school spaces may be used for parts of a project, the makerspace will likely be the site for most or all of the stages essential to a good Maker project: design, prototyping, testing, and communication of solutions. |
+
|
Leave room for new equipment and resources
Start simple and build up the functionality (available tools and materials) over time. It can easily take 2 -3 years for a makerspace to become a regularly used asset in a school, and for students and teachers to develop a good “flow” that everyone has become familiar with it. Add equipment over time as needs arise and as curriculum is developed. |
+
|
Plan a welcoming and safe environment
Take ventilation, noise, and safety into account when considering the layout of the Makerspace. Some areas may require limited access and need to be locked off while other parts of the space are in use. Ventilation is essential for laser cutters, sanders, paint booths and other places where chemicals or particles can become airborne. Noisy equipment can make the space inhospitable, and general classroom noise can also be a problem in a large open space. |
Example Makerspace: 1500 ft² including
|