Suggestions for Success
- Start small--you don't have to have a full blown makerspace on day 1
- Remember not all makerspaces are created equally--have a vision that works with your space and your school's culture
- Be open to new ideas and be a learner! I have items in my makerspace I still don't know how to use, and that's ok. Part of the adventure is letting the students figure it out. You don't have to be an expert on everything in your makerspace--let the kids become experts. If they need help, it's usually a few clicks away on a computer.
- Make it as available to kids as possible, within reason.
- Document activity as much as possible. Use pictures, tweets, articles, blogs, tell people about it--make it known!
- Team with your community! I've done a rocket launch thanks to community volunteers, and I loaned my maker materials to the public library for the summer to build more makers in the teen group for our community and to feed back into my library.