The document discusses how makerspaces can be used to engage all learners, including those who struggle with traditional teaching approaches, through design thinking activities. It provides examples of how a library makerspace was implemented in an elementary school to encourage creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication skills. Students participated in workshops exploring topics like 3D printing, electronics, coding and robotics. Feedback showed that students enjoyed learning real-world skills in a fun environment and having choice and ownership over their projects. The makerspace was expanded to additional schools and summer camps.

1. Making Makerspaces Matter
Design Thinking for ALL Learners
Kimberly Bradshaw
Tina Coffey
Dr. Jessica McClung
Roanoke County Schools

2. It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in
creative expression and knowledge. –Albert Einstein

4. Library MakerSpace

5. Some learners
struggle with
traditional teaching
approaches.

6. If a child cannot
learn in the way we
teach, we must
teach in a way the
child can learn.
– Dr. Ivar Lovaas

9. Co-Taught
Classroom

11. “The best way
to start is
simply to start.”
-Emily Pilloton
Educator & Designer

12. Hack-O-Lanterns

16. “My point is a simple one:
Your expectations can be
a bigger obstacle to
success than your
students’ disabilities.”
-John Franklin Stephens
Special Olympics Athlete & Global Messenger

17. Elementary FACES Program

19. Preschool

20. Leaders in their
own homerooms

21. MakerMondays

22. MakerWorkshops

23. Summer Camp

24. Student leaders
in the making…

25. Moving Forward…

26. 3

27. Train the Trainer

29. reativity
ollaboration
ritical thinking
ommunication

31. Reflection

32. MakerShop

33. MakerShop

34. Exploring
Motion

35. Exploring
Motion

36. 3D Printing

37. Electricity
and Music

38. Electricity
Take Apart Toys Video

39. Exploring
Sound

40. Exploring
Sound

41. Coding and
Robotics

42. Coding
and
Robotics

43. Summer Camps
Year 2

44. Video of Example of Summer
Workshop Project

45. Student
Feedback

46. Makerspace is a great
fun place where you get
to learn about
programming, making
stuff from scratch, and
stop motion films.
– Student

47. My favorite thing I’ve
done in the
Makerspace is
robots. Robots,
robots, robots.
– Student

48. When I get to do it
and I signed up for it -
This is going to be so
epic! - because I
choosed [sic] it.
– Student

49. Kim Bradshaw
Tina Coffey
Dr. Jessica McClung
www.learningcollaboratory.com
Download Presentation and Learn more:
kbradshaw@rcs.k12.va.us
tcoffey@rcsk.12.va.us
jmcclung@rcs.k12.v.us