Essential Question: What stuff will you stock your making space with, what’s the cost, and how will you fund it? This is definitely a hard question to answer and even harder when I can't just go and inventory my classroom. I have so much stuff that I rarely order things until I need them. There just is no place to put extra stuff. I have a lot of cabinet and storage space that just needs to be reorganized. Much of the stuff that could be used for making is locked up and other materials that aren't so good for making are readily available (plastic containers, old projects, extra school supplies, etc.). So a major reorganization is a must when I get back to school. I just never have time. I have been so overwhelmed with just cleaning and organizating in the 4 years I have been in Toksook Bay. I think I have thrown out at least 2 truckloads of just junk or old unusable kits and books. Below I came up with a list of things that might be useful for a makerspace if I ever get the chance to set it up. I probably forgot a lot of things. I feel like I never know what I need until I need it. But making is all about trial and error anyway. In "Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom" by Martinez and Stager (2013), they suggest to build basic stocks in the following areas areas: Electronic parts and tools, computers, cameras, software, craft and art supplies, building materials and traditional tools, junk for recycling into new products, and a library. I used all of the categories except library because our library is almost nonexistent and materials are very out of date. I think an initial budget of about $300 would be a good start. I did not pick any high end devices because Hublinka (2013) suggest to "get simple and affordable tools ahead of advanced and expensive ones." I would like to start out simple and see where that takes students. If they request things they find online I would certainly try to find a way to get it. My budget is about $200 but I added additional for maintenance and other items that I may have left off as Hublinka suggests. To get funding I would try to use local organizations like CVRF or donors choose. According to" The Beginner's Guide to Makerspaces", Barker (2016) suggests that "you do not need to look far to find potential donors." Many of the organizations she lists are not available in bush Alaska. CVRF has helped fund projects for our Yup'ik class and has talked with the school about funding opportunities. Another good source for funding is donors choose. She lists this site just below the local funding. I have used donors choose and great success with receiving funding for all 4 projects I have posted. Sources
Barker, A. (2016, February 14). The Beginner's Guide to Makerspaces. Retrieved June 25, 2016, from http://libraryschool.libguidescms.com/content.php?pid=669125 Hlubinka, M. (2013, August 21). Stocking up School Makerspaces | Make:. Retrieved June 25, 2016, from http://makezine.com/2013/08/21/stocking-up-school-makerspaces/ Martinez, S. L., & Stager, G. (2013). Invent to learn: Making, tinkering, and engineering in the classroom [Kindle].
4 Comments
Aleta May
6/25/2016 08:55:25 pm
Hi Sara,
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Sara Lucas
6/26/2016 03:41:46 pm
I'm going to make a guess that many schools in our district are in a similar situation. It is much easier to get stuff to bush Alaska now than it was in the past. People hoarded everything they could get their hands on. Now the clean up will probably take years.
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I love your inventory spreadsheet! Having such a neat and precise layout of supplies makes it easy to see what you have, what you need, and in the future, what might need to be ordered. I think this would also be helpful when asking for funding because everything is so specific and the person or organization providing assistance can easily see where their money will be going.
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Sara Lucas
6/26/2016 03:45:02 pm
So true!! It was such a challenge to come up with a way to lay it out. As I was mentioning on Aleta's comment, my list started out as a list. But then I was confused and as I looked at the book for ideas decided to go with their way. Plus it made it easy for me to look through their suggestions. I really wasn't sure what I might need. It is so hard to guess until you actually start using the stuff.
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