Student creativity, problem solving, and collaboration activities are limited by the traditional classroom space. Schools need to develop physical spaces where students can have more open space to engage in project-based activities. These are called makerspaces. The projects can be entirely decided by the students or centred on a theme such as environmentally-friendly projects or projects that must serve the students’ locally community.
A makerspace is not just a physical space for learning. The redefined lesson model in itself is a makerspace. The makerspace environment involves a hands-on learning approach, project-based learning and student self-directed learning. In such a way we make spaces for students to become makers. Makers create new ideas and new products by exploring, experimenting, and learning by doing. This learning should be guided by the students’ own natural creativity and problem-solving skills. To encourage students to make and build, makerspaces are built on five basic ideas:
- Everyone is a maker
- Our world is what we make it
- If you can imagine it, you can make it
- Do what you can, where you are, with what you have
- Makerspaces are collaborative and students are encouraged to learn from one another. Teachers and students are equal partners in the makerspace.
- Start with the Classroom. Make sure that students can move around and see each other's work.
- Make time for informal spaces.
- Supervision always means formality. Reduce supervision either by joining in or walking out.
- Makerspaces involve physical materials like stationary, posters, pens etc for any age group.
- Makerspaces involve digital applications, games, videos, ICT etc.
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