design challenges in makerspaces: how to develop student creativity

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com

DESIGN CHALLENGESin Makerspaces

@DianaLRendina RenovatedLearning.com Media Specialist, Tampa, FL

How to Develop Student Creativity

http://RenovatedLearning.com

http://renovatedlearning.com


DIANA RENDINA, MLIS • Media Specialist at Tampa Preparatory, 6-12 independent school

• Stewart Middle Magnet School in Tampa, FL from 2010-2017

• Blogger @ RenovatedLearning & AASL Knowledge Quest

• 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator

Portrait by Kimberly Yau



HOW I GOT STARTED From Dark Cave to the Stewart Makerspace



About Stewart• Public STEM Magnet Middle School • Hillsborough County Public Schools (8th largest

district in USA) • Grades 6-8 • Urban location near downtown Tampa • Title 1 - 75% of students on free or reduced

lunch • 30% Black, 33% Hispanic, 30% White, 7%

Asian and Multiracial • 65% Male, 35% Female



March 2010



The only STEM in our library



Discovering the Maker Movement



Maker research



Sharing vision = supplies!



The birth of our Makerspace



The corner before…



TransformaCon



The Stewart Makerspace



Body Level One Body Level Two

Body Level Three DESIGN CHALLENGES VS. OPEN EXPLORATION



OPEN EXPLORATIONFree time, students can explore the tools and ideas that interest them



WORKSHOPSEveryone learns a new skill together working on the same project



CIRCUIT BRACELET WORKSHOP



DESIGN CHALLENGEWhole group focuses on a unifying challenge or theme for their project




Body Level Three WHY DESIGN CHALLENGES?



“It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creaCve work,

limitaCons mean freedom”

~ AusCn Kleon, Steal Like an ArCst




Body Level Three

“The Challenge of the Blank Screen” Seymour Papert

“The Paradox of Choice” Barry Schwartz, psychologist



CREATING A DESIGN PROMPT• What is the goal? • Who do students work with? • What are the materials? • How much Cme do they have? • How will they share it? • Other creaCve constraints?




Body Level Three DESIGN CHALLENGE EXAMPLES



PHONE/TABLET HOLDER



PHONE/TABLET HOLDER PROMPTBuild a device that can hold your phone steady to take a picture or video. Work with your table group. You can only use K’nex provided at your table. You have 45 minutes, then we’ll share “shark tank” pitches to the group.



CARDBOARD CHALLENGEWatch Caine’s Arcade!!



CARDBOARD CHALLENGE



CARDBOARD CHALLENGE PROMPT• Goal: Make an arcade game with

cardboard • Who: Choose your own groups • Materials: At least 75% cardboard • Time: 2 weeks • Share: Global Cardboard

Challenge event



FURNITURE DESIGN CHALLENGE

hUps://Xnyurl.com/studentmakercart


https://tinyurl.com/studentmakercart


FURNITURE DESIGN PROMPT• Goal: Design a piece of furniture

to help a school start a makerspace

• Who: Choose your own groups • Materials: Anything! • Time: 2 weeks • Share: Present ideas to CEF



BEST PRACTICES FOR CHALLENGES



LABEL ALL THE THINGS!!! Labels are your friends



PROJECT STORAGE Let kids save their works-in-progress



PROJECT DISPLAY Display student works



LESS IS MORE Don’t do the work for them - guide them in the right direction



BEST PRACTICES FOR CHALLENGES

• Don’t make it a compeCCon • Provide a focus, but not too

many limitaCons • Leave room for creaCvity • Build in a sharing component



CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS



COLLABORATION Coral reef lesson

WriUen ConversaXons



COLLABORATION Coral reef lesson



DESIGN PROMPT

Build a model of a coral reef using K’nex or LEGOs. You must cite at least one piece of evidence from the text. Work alone or in groups. You have 15 minutes, then we’ll present our projects to the class.



SHARING & CONNECTING



SKYPE & GOOGLE HANGOUT



JOINT DESIGN CHALLENGES



GUEST MENTORS



COLLABORATIONS



MAKER FAIR Share with your community


There is no such thing as aONE-SIZE-FITS-ALLMAKERSPACE

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.comResources: DianaRendinaPresents.wikispaces.com

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design challenges in makerspaces: how to develop student creativity

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