It’s More Than Just Making: Insights into Facilitating Learning Through Making

Date
2018-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Alberta Teachers’ Association
Abstract
Makerspaces are a rapidly growing trend in education. Schools are incorporating makerspaces to provide students with experiential learning opportunities to be designers, innovators and makers. Attention must be given not only to the creation of such spaces but also, and more important, how to incorporate such activities in an environment that fosters deep learning. In this article, a team of researchers share their lived experience of implementing makerspace activities with students in a school of education. From reflecting on our experience designing and facilitating learning through making, we have identified three lessons learned: designing challenging learning tasks is not easy; facilitating learning through making is a delicate dance; and changing our dispositions through making changes our practice. Learning in makerspace environments is as challenging for teachers as it is for their students because it connects the development of iterative design provocations and a mindset that embraces failure.
Description
Keywords
Science Education, Makerspace, Making
Citation
Lock, J., Santos, L. da R. dos, Hollohan, P., & Becker, S. (2018). It’s More Than Just Making: Insights into Facilitating Learning Through Making. Alberta Science Education Journal, 45(2), 10–16.