Organized chaos

When I first began this blog, it seemed both inevitable that people wouldn't and vital that people would, read it.  So, like any good blogger in the early stages of blogdom - I gave up.

I'm back!

My up-til-now-brief journey into the land of makerspace has definitely taught me flexibility, adaptability, and the need for a list of good old fashioned reliable websites that provide clear, concise, printable makerspace project instructions.

This is my maker list in progress:

The Compassionate Librarian

MakeZine
Make magazines list of makerspace starter projects.  Include crafts, science, technology and more.  "Starter" is, I gather, a term used for technology gurus and masterminds.

TEACH - Make a Difference
OK - Here are the real starter projects, including the Tower of Power and basic catapult challenge.  Oh -and the bridge to nowhere.

Makerspaces
Simple STEM projects.  On my to-make list...the marble run, the frog robot, and the simple STEM boat.

Sharing

Big ideas are only real when shared...

We look at our own four walls every day, and they grow old to us, lose their luster.  But viewing my libraries through the eyes of 24 colleagues today totally made me Love my libraries even more.  How exciting to have something so worth sharing, and I give so much credit to my school district and administration for seeing the value and necessity of having a media center that is the hub of the school.

Many colleagues asked me to today to share resources and plans I have developed, and while this is only the beginning of my journey, I do have a few things.  Please visit dropbox here to view and download materials. Please feel free to use - and give a shout out to Laurens Central School as credit at the bottom of any items distributed.  If you have any questions, contact me anytime!  In addition, I am very hopeful folks will share what they are doing as well.

Thanks!  And, see you in the makerspace.

Big ideas...

So, I thought I'd start a makerspace in our elementary and high school libraries.  Well, actually, I thought about starting one last year.  And the year before.  And probably the year before that.  I read some stuff, trolled around online, and even left a cool article for my principal to read over the summer two years ago about the principal/librarian maker partnership.

Still, self-doubt and fear of the unknown governed my apathy.

Until, for some reason, one day this year I just did it. 

For me, it all started with a list of supplies, a table, and a whole lot of legos.  Truth be told, it's the best (and messiest) thing I've ever done as a library media specialist.

Here are a few take-aways so far, and some notes to my future self.

Ozobots are second only to legos!

• When putting out a supply list to the general public or school community, be VERY specific.  I have received a lot of great stuff, but I have also been given a lot of not so great stuff (for example two gigantic bags of dirty styrofoam)
• Get your hands on some legos
• Expect chaos
• Plan and host challenges to encourage specific projects
• Provide printed directions for DIY projects
• Leave space and time for students to just invent stuff on their own
• Prepare library staff for a seismic shift in library usage and environment
• KEEP STATISTICS from day one!  Change sign in sheets to include makerspace projects
• Making slime is hugely fun and very messy - provide zip lock bags
• Label all of your bins.  I purchased transparent bins.
• Get teachers on board early on (present at a faculty meeting)
• Legos never go out of style
  
  Note to future self -
• Provide orientation for wanna-be makers
• Require one volunteer hour (1/2 hour?) a quarter for makers (to tidy up)
• Keep better statistics
• Only make slime one week a year
   

  

  Our HS Library aide was very cool to let us take over her workroom and make slime!

   

  
  

   

  

  Dash can be programmed to annoy people.
  
   

  

  
  Annoyed by dash!  Also creator of many lego monster trucks.