Guide to Achieving Mobile Makerspace Excellence in 6 Steps
In the picturesque town of Buxton, Maine, Bonny Eagle Schools have introduced a revolutionary initiative - a mobile makerspace program - aimed at enhancing collaboration and hands-on STEM experiences for students across the district.
This innovative program, carefully designed by Instructional Technology Coach Stephen Avery and Susie Simmons, allows for projects that previously consumed several weeks and overnight hours to be completed within a school day. The mobile nature of the makerspace ensures flexibility, enabling it to travel between classrooms or even different schools, thereby ensuring all students have access to hands-on STEM activities.
The mobile makerspace has been instrumental in fostering community involvement. Partnerships with local businesses, experts, and organizations provide resources, expertise, and diverse role models, enhancing the learning environment. Professionals lead workshops or offer mentorship, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.
The program encourages hands-on learning through a variety of tools. These include 3D printers, GlowForge laser cutters and engravers, a bed-style diode laser called the S1 from xTool, a small, portable engraving unit called the F1, and a Cricut Venture system for large-scale, industrial-sized projects. Open-ended challenge cards serve as creative prompts, encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking.
One notable project involved using the technology to make linoleum stamps accessible for a student with a physical limitation in art class. Another example is the creation of physical currency in a social studies class to help students understand setting up their own countries and economies.
The mobile makerspace program is not confined to CTE-style STEM courses but is integrated into the curriculum for all students. It serves as a processing center for schools that need a project completed, even if the hands-on tech is not physically present in the room.
Bonny Eagle Schools' mobile makerspace program extends beyond the school setting, with regular family maker nights and community events. This approach ensures that the makerspace philosophy is not confined to the classroom but becomes a part of the community's fabric.
The program's success is evident in its ability to justify expenses through various applications and projects. Susie Simmons, the Instructional Technology Coach at Bonny Eagle Schools, was recently recognized with an Innovative Leader Award for Most Innovative Learning Spaces. The schools have also expanded their 3D printing system across the district with a grant from the Perloff Family Foundation.
Coaches at Bonny Eagle Schools emphasize the importance of collaboration, suggesting that even an hour of time together can be productive and invigorating. The mobile makerspace program is a testament to the power of collaboration and hands-on learning, transforming the educational landscape in Buxton, Maine, and beyond.
- The digital school environment in Buxton, Maine, has been significantly enhanced by Bonny Eagle Schools' introduction of a mobile makerspace program, designed by Instructional Technology Coach Stephen Avery and Susie Simmons.
- This program, facilitating professional development for teachers and fostering hands-on learning for students, has made it possible to complete projects that previously required several weeks in a single school day.
- The mobility of the makerspace ensures that it can travel between classrooms and schools, providing equal access to STEM activities for all students.
- Gadgets like 3D printers, GlowForge laser cutters and engravers, a diode laser, portable engravers, and a Cricut Venture system are used in this program to encourage creative problem-solving and critical thinking.
- The mobile makerspace program is not limited to CTE-style STEM courses; instead, it is integrated into the curriculum for all students, serving as a processing center for schools needing a project completed.
- The success of the mobile makerspace program extends beyond the school setting, with regular family maker nights and community events, making hands-on learning and collaboration a part of the community's fabric.
