By Matthew Fink, AID, LEED BD+C, Associate and Registered Architect at LAN Associates. People are intrinsically makers, tinkerers, creators. Whether it is through art, music, language, or any other media, people are drawn to this idea of making and creating something new. There is a great passion in making as it allows us to not only show understanding, but an opportunity to express ourselves, our personalities, and our ideas. Making is also considered one of the best ways to learn. This idea becomes quite obvious when we look back at our childhood toys. Whether LEGO blocks, science kits, or doctor bags, we emulate a real-life process and learn by doing rather than our outdated tradition of rote memorization. With this in mind, how do we create a successful makerspace promoting authentic learning through doing? There is a big difference between a “builder’s playground” where the idea is to simply build versus a makerspace designed for the advancement of young learners. We’ve identified four learning components of a successful makerspace along with four physical components to aid in this quest for innovation and career readiness.

1. Making a
Successful
Makerspace
Matthew Fink
AIA, LEED BD+C
Associate and
Registered Architect at
LAN Associates.

2. Learning Components
of a Successful
Makerspace
PART ONE:

3. Design
Thinking

4. There is a great joy to
be found in simply
creating, but the
backbone of every
successful makerspace
should include the
understanding of
Design Thinking.

5. By incorporating this
mindset, students are
encouraged to
empathize, define,
build, test, and rebuild
to enhance ideas and
Demonstrate
Progression.

6. is no longer a
negative outcome
but in fact, a
positive as it can
lead to new ideas
and better results.
Failure

7. Social /
Emotional
Learning

8. Further promote
understanding and
the reasoning by
combining awareness,
responsibility, and
positivity for one and
one’s environment.

9. By introducing empathy and
emotion, students set and
achieve positive goals, create
and maintain positive
relationships, and make
Responsible
Decisions.

10. Global /
Digital
Citizenship

11. As lessons delve further into
technology and physical
boundaries disappear, it is
important for students to
understand that their actions
leave a trace and they are a
part of a larger unit.

12. Global/Digital Citizenship
focuses on accountability,
communication, and even
debate, allowing students to
connect with a greater picture
and form ties that lead to
Collaboration
and Interaction.

13. Cross
Curricular
Education

14. Through the
combination of
subjects and
disciplines, students
develop soft skills that
will aid in any future
career or scenario.

15. Cross Curricular Education
promotes creativity by
piecing elements together
to find innovative solutions
and decompartmentalizing
teachings.

16. This methodology can also produce greater enthusiasm
by helping students find a connection and
Passion in Any Project.

17. Want to
know more?
Visit https://www.haskelloffice.com/making-a-successful-makerspace/
to read the full article.