Design Challenges in Makerspaces

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
DESIGN CHALLENGES
in Makerspaces
@DianaLRendina
RenovatedLearning.com
Stewart Middle Magnet School, Tampa, FL

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DIANA RENDINA, MLIS
• Media Specialist at Stewart
Middle Magnet School in
Tampa, FL since 2010
• Blogger @
RenovatedLearning & AASL
Knowledge Quest
• 2016 ISTE Outstanding
Young Educator
• Challenge-Based Learning in
the School Library
Makerspace - August 2017
• Reimagining Library Spaces:
Transform Your Space on Any
Budget - Fall 2017
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

Sharing vision = supplies!

The birth of our Makerspace

The corner before…

TransformaCon

The Stewart Makerspace

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DESIGN CHALLENGES VS. OPEN EXPLORATION

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

WORKSHOPS
Everyone learns a new skill together
working on the same project

CIRCUIT BRACELET WORKSHOP

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

Body Level One
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“It seems contradictory, but
when it comes to creaCve work,
limitaCons mean freedom”
~ AusCn Kleon,
Steal Like an ArCst

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“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?

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DESIGN CHALLENGE EXAMPLES

RUBBER BAND LAUNCHER CHALLENGE
Make something that ﬂings something

RUBBER BAND LAUNCHER CHALLENGE

RUBBER BAND LAUNCHER PROMPT
• Goal: Create something that
launches with a rubber band
• Who: Choose your own groups
• Materials: Anything! + rubber
bands
• Time: 3 weeks
• Share: Video conference

CARDBOARD CHALLENGE
Watch 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

PHONE/TABLET HOLDER

PHONE/TABLET HOLDER PROMPT
Build 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.

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 ConversaVons

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.

COLLABORATION The Engineering Design Process

COLLABORATION The Engineering Design Process
IdenVfy the PROBLEM
BRAINSTORM a soluVon
DESIGN & BUILD a prototype
TEST & EVALUATE
REDESIGN based on tests
SHARE your soluVon
REFLECT on process

DESIGN PROMPT The Engineering Design Process
Build a device that can hold a
phone to take a picture.
Document your work on your
worksheet. Work in table groups.
You have 20 minutes, then we’ll
pitch our projects to the class.

SHARING &
CONNECTING

SKYPE & GOOGLE HANGOUT

JOINT DESIGN CHALLENGES

GUEST MENTORS

OUTSIDE COLLABORATIONS

MAKER FAIR Share with your community

There is no such thing as a
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
MAKERSPACE

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.comResources: DianaRendinaPresents.wikispaces.com
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Design Challenges in Makerspaces

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