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1 The Seven Attributes of a GREAT Makerspace

The Seven Attributes of a Great Makerspace

My work with schools across the nation on planning and creating makerspaces has proven to me that while anyone can create a makerspace, there are distinct differences between makerspaces and GREAT makerspaces. Makerspaces touch the surface of impacting student learning, whereas GREAT makerspaces allow students the opportunity to take a deeper dive into their learning. The students who have visited my makerspace most regularly have been the students who are most disaffected by traditional schooling. At the most fundamental level, our makerspace has allowed them to find their passion and foster a love for learning. This naturally has helped them focus on other areas, too, leading to higher achievement in their content-area classes. All students who visit our makerspace benefit from intrinsic motivation and self-directed learning. GREAT makerspaces make learning fun and motivate students to learn. The skills the students gain extend their learning into the real world and provide them with benefits that reach well beyond their schooling.

GREAT makerspaces are unique to your school community and not only vibrant now but also sustainable into the future. All too often, schools go out and buy the “stuff”—the things that other schools with makerspaces have bought, or things that are trendy and schools feel they should buy. What usually happens in those instances is that the space is exciting for a short period of time but, ultimately, that excitement fades. GREAT makerspaces plan for the future and understand that a makerspace is never done. It is always evolving and growing and taking shape.

The seven attributes of a GREAT makerspace serve as a guide for school districts and educators as they plan makerspaces for their school communities. Makerspaces should be personalized to your school community, promote deep understanding of concepts, provide access to all students to ensure equity, invite student-driven exploration, differentiate for students’ needs, convey an intentional vision, and inspire students to make.

Let’s explore what each of these components looks like in GREAT makerspaces.