What is a Makerspace Lab? A Makerspace Lab is a collaborative workplace found in schools or libraries that are made for learning, exploring, creating, and inventing. There are different types of equipment found in these labs which could include 3D printers, sewing machines, and other activities and tools. These labs incorporate many STEM/STEAM activities for children to engage in and connect different ideas and subject areas.
During my time in this course, I was able to experience many hours doing practicum at a local Makerspace Lab. I had never heard of these before taking this course and volunteering at these Makerspaces but they are so much fun and are a great outlet for young students to have. I went to this Makerspace Lab every Wednesday for a handful of weeks in a row and began to become familiar with some of the children that would come each week. Each week we would choose a couple different educational STEAM activities for the students to use and each week it was so fun to see how these children would get so into the different activities and be so creative with them. The kids used problem-solving to figure out a lot of the tough activities and did a lot of trial and error to strategize and problem solve. Some examples of the activities and tools that we would bring out during these Makerspace Labs are LEGOs, Straws & Connectors, marble runs, snap circuits, and the drawing tablet. I learned so much by attending these labs and would encourage everyone to try them out and research if there are any near you or local to you!
In Fredericksburg, VA there are many options and locations for Makerspace Labs! The one that I attended was at the Howell Library but there are many others and the Central Rappahannock Regional Library website shares these different locations and the times that these labs occur.
There is an abundance of websites that have information about different MakerSpace Labs and provide a lot of resources for parents and educators. Some of these websites include:
- Why Your Students Need a Makerspace
- Defining STEM Makerspace
- 15 Best Makerspace Lab Images
- STEAM Lab Makerspaces
- Designing a School Makerspace
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