Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity

@DianaLRendina * RenovatedLearning.com
DESIGN CHALLENGES
in Makerspaces
@DianaLRendina
RenovatedLearning.com
Media Specialist, Tampa, FL
How to Develop Student Creativity

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 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
Body Level Two
Body Level ThreeWHY DESIGN CHALLENGES?

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

Body Level One
Body Level Two
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 One
Body Level Two
Body Level Three
DESIGN CHALLENGE EXAMPLES

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.

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

FURNITURE DESIGN CHALLENGE
hUps://Xnyurl.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 a
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
MAKERSPACE

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

Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity

More Related Content

What's hot

Similar to Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity

More from Diana Rendina

Recently uploaded

Design Challenges in Makerspaces: How to Develop Student Creativity