Makerspace and UDL

UDL is a key component of modern instruction in 21st century, flexible learning spaces. Universal Design began in architecture and urban planning. Accessibility features like ramps and automatic doors were originally designed to provide access to people with physical disabilities, but also enhance access for everyone. Imagine pushing a stroller, wheelchair or luggage cart, and the value of curb ramps becomes apparent. 

UDL takes the concept of improved access for everyone, and applies it to teaching methods, curriculum materials, and classroom arrangements. Students come to the classroom with a variety of needs, skills, talents, interests and experiences. The goal is to provide all students equal opportunities to learn, by encouraging teachers to design flexible curriculum, and by creating a physical environment that allows for personalized learning. (OASD UDL website)

In OASD, we are working to integrate the UDL principles into our classrooms and we have seen this being done around the district in a variety of successful ways.  When looking at the Makerspace, we wanted to make sure we were meeting these three learning guidelines.  After the first couple of months, we sat down to reflect on our teaching practices and how they fit into UDL.  It was unbelievable how easily the Makerspace lessons and activities fit into UDL!  By nature, the Makerspace provides multiples means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. In turn, we have found that our learners are resourceful and knowledgeable, strategic and goal-directed, and and purposeful and motivated.  

Every Makerspace project we do varies but each one gives students choice in how they will complete the challenge.  There has never been a challenge that has a right and wrong answer and when students realize that, they have the confidence to come up with any solution they want.  Students are creative, take risks, and at times fail. Everyday, every student has a chance to be successful.

The Makerspace provides equal opportunities to learn, lends itself to a flexible curriculum, and requires a physical environment that allows for personalized learning.  The Makerspace is UDL in action!

WEMTA conference

In just a couple of weeks, we will be presenting at the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) conference.  If you are interested in hearing about our Makerspace experiences in person, come check it out! Presenting will be a 3rd grade teacher, our Learning Resource teacher, and our Library Media Specialist.  We also have a video with interviews from a variety of students and staff, as well as project examples and samples of equipment we've used.

Besides our session, there is a wide assortment of sessions that fit any person in education, whether you are a classroom teacher, LMS, or technology integrator.  It really is a great conference to hear about what is happening in districts close to you, as well as around the state.  

Here is the link to our WEMTA presentation resources: http://goo.gl/cJmnlm

Second Grade Games

Our second grade classes just finished a building challenge.  Their goal was to create a game that would teach or practice a skill.  I was amazed at the creativity that they showed in designing their various games.  We saw everything from trivia games to kinesthetic/movement games, to strategy games, to video games.  And at the completion of the unit, the classes loved presenting them to each other and trying them out!

We began with a brainstorm of different types of games.  We talked about what all games should have (an objective, a set of rules, equipment, a start and end point, etc.) and we brainstormed what skills they could be teaching or practicing within the game.

This was their first time working within the design process, so for some of them, it was a struggle to not just jump right in and start to build without planning first.  Once they got underway, though, it was great to see them creating and improving each week.  Many groups needed a "piece" of some kind that they didn't have.  They decided to design them in Tinkercad and 3D print them.

Second Grade Game Making Projects

Groups that wanted to create video games partnered up with fourth grade mentors to learn Scratch and create their games there.

Sharing video games created in Scratch

Their final products far exceeded our expectations!

Math Trivia

Addition "Sorry"

"The Bridge of Faith" Strategy Game

Math Skee-ball

Summit School Clue

"Profit Problem" Math Game

Tour of our Space

Many of the pictures of our space were taken at the beginning of the year when the space hadn't been used yet.  Here is a glimpse at what it looks like when all second, third and fourth graders are creating!

The mirror wall was a suggestion from our art teacher.  Students can watch themselves create. We also use it to write our objectives with glass markers The kids love looking at themselves so we thought they might actually read the objective!

A closer look at our objectives. They are difficult to read in this picture but easier in real life.

The Lego wall with projects on the Lego bench. The windows have 3rd and 4th grade projects ideas written on them. The drawers hold Legos.  The bench is nice because students can stand on it to write on the window, making it more functional. The windows look into the library so we use both spaces with safe sight lines.

A close up of some 3rd grade project ideas.

The LEGO cabinet.

PROJECTS! Right now, each 2nd grade has their own metal cart to store their projects. We have found that storage is one of our biggest issues.  The metal carts are nice because they are on wheels but they are large and take up space. We've found that having plastic bins to hold specific projects on the carts helps with organization but they are expensive so we don't have that many.

The 3D printer area.

The sewing area. You can see an iPad mini. We have found these are great to have in our space for  students to use when they need to do additional research, search for ideas, or look for a how-to.  We also have laptops available for students working on coding projects or word processing.

This is like letting the world see your messy closet!  Normally we would clean up before we took pictures but this is really how the Makerspace looks some of the time!  Actually our students are usually pretty good at cleaning up so this must have just been a rough day! Or a really creative one!

We keep all of our tools and sharp objects in cabinets or drawers that lock.  This was really important to us when we were designing the space.   We have an Eagle Scout candidate working on designing and building a workbench. The small plastic bins you see are nice to keep projects that have small pieces.

The design challenge ideas are straight from the Dyson vacuum website! They are great for when students get done with a project early or if they want to try something new.

Created by a classroom teacher, this poster gives the basics!

For each tool or kit we have, posters were created that linked a QR code to the tool's website, how-to video, or project ideas using the tool.  This way, students can grab an iPad and use the QR code reader to help them learn more.  This has made students more independent and frees up the teacher to help others.

The whiteboard is always being used to explain new things or write down directions. It is nice having a flexible work area like this one.

The Lego drawers can be pulled out and taken to a table or kept by the Lego wall.  Not all of our drawers are filled with Legos (YET) so they are also a great place to store small projects.

Every project looks different!

A mix of Snap Circuits and Legos. 

Summit Makerspace! 

Makerspace on the Move

To say our Makerspace is beautiful would be an understatement.  Jill LaGrange, our art teacher, did an amazing job designing the space to make it both aesthetically pleasing and functional.  Our Building and Grounds department executed our plans and then some!  It really was a group effort and the result is amazing.

BUT…while it's called a MakerSPACE, you don't need a designated space to have a Makerspace. The only real criteria is a MAKER.  And if you're a teacher or parent, you have many makers right in front of your eyes.  The maker movement has no walls. “Making” is happening in our classrooms, in our hallways, and on our playgrounds.  While Summit’s Makerspace has created a safe place for students and teachers to explore their passions while also making strong curricular connections, the need to expand beyond the space and into the classroom is ever apparent. A maker space is not a space, it is an idea, a mindset, a revolution.  

The next grant we have written is designed around the creation of four mobile maker carts. The demand on the Makerspace by teachers and students has quickly exceeded the limits of scheduling and maker resources deployed in the space. Each cart will contain the building blocks for teachers to enrich their units and for students to expand on their learning.  To decide what was on each cart, a survey of classroom teachers and specialists was completed. We envision the four carts being a creativity cart, a technology cart, a math and science cart, and an engineering cart.

Some Makerspace cart inspiration...

Whether or not we are awarded our grant, we firmly believe that a Makerspace is not a space but a mindset. So if you are wanting to build a Makerspace but don't have the actual space, don't be discouraged. You can do it!

LEGOS

One of the highlights of our Makerspace is the Lego wall.  Students can take their Legos to the tables or they can build on the Lego wall.  We were very fortunate to receive funding for our Lego wall from the Imagine a Day, Courtney Bella Foundation.  We also purchased some WeDo kits. These kits combine Lego software with Lego models featuring working motors and sensors that when students connect them to the computer, they can use simple programming tools to control the Lego's behavior. 

We have had some skeptics on the use of Legos for education.  Aren't they just toys?  Don't they just play and have fun with them?  The answer is YES! They are toys! They are fun! And kids do play!  BUT we believe that toys can be our best learning tools.  Learning should be fun!

Luckily, we aren't the only ones who believe this basic principle.  In fact, Lego has created an entire Lego Education website with teacher professional development, stories and case studies, and support for their math and literacy products.

"With LEGO^® Education Elementary solutions, children are provided with rich curriculum, materials, tools, and programs through which they have free-form ability to create or resolve problems. Without the restriction of having a right answer, we eliminate inhibitions and promote creativity – helping children develop the tenacity and ability to adapt to change that are so crucial for every student’s success in their education and in life. 

The use of Legos fits perfectly into the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) movement.  Engineer Matthew Loew said "It is clear to me that the combinations of rules and structure (bricks only connect in certain ways and there are a limited set of parts) along with the flexibility to be creative (there are so many connection combinations) is what engineering is all about." 

We also have a Lego club after school and it's probably our most popular club. We love LEGOS!

So Much Learning Going On!

One of my favorite projects so far this year was our first attempt at using the sewing machines.  The third grade class was given the challenge of creating something that would help someone else.  This particular group of students decided that they wanted to make aprons for the Makerspace, so that students who were making messy projects could use them.  They enlisted the help of a student's mom and grandma, who guided them through the whole process - drawing their pattern, learning how to use the machines, and actually sewing the aprons together.

What amazed me was just how much content was integrated into this one lesson.  While creating the patterns, the group had discussions about symmetry, accuracy in measurement, and proportion.  While learning about using the machines, their conversations were about coordination, precision, focus, and the definitions of the terms pressure and tension.

Then the best part began.  Once the students were actively sewing, Grandmother started talking.  She shared stories of her own experiences sewing, her experiences growing up, and what life was like when she was their age.  The students were captivated.  Mother shared with them how she uses sewing in her career and what other careers involved sewing and design like what they were doing.  It made the project that much more meaningful and relevant to the third graders.

If there was any doubt in my mind as to how we would integrate curriculum into our Makerspace projects, watching this one group work completely convinced me!