Designing

Makerspaces for the Classroom

What is a makerspace?
To describe them simply, makerspaces are
community-oriented workshops with various tools.
They combine manufacturing equipment,
community, and education to prototype and create
manufactured works that wouldnt be possible to
create with the resources available to individuals
alone.

Key Planning Questions:
What are the goals of this makerspace?

Are you focused on getting students to exercise their

creativity? To learn about electronics hands-on? To
design and prototype their own creations? To
practice engineering skills? A makerspace can do all
of these things, but some people choose to focus
more on one domain than another.

What does my school already have?

The needs of a 1:1 school or a school where every

single student has some type of device are going to
be different than a school that doesnt have
functional WiFi. Your library might already have an
iPad cart or the school might have a woodshop. Old,
unused supplies are usually lying around. These need
to be considered as you put together your
makerspace proposal.

How much physical space do I have?

While it would be ideal to have a dedicated room for

your makerspace, most schools dont have this much
space. Consider how much room you have for
supplies and where youll store them when not in
use. Many schools are putting together makerspace
carts that can be put away when not in use.

How will it be used?

Will it be a mobile makerspace that travels? Will

classes come specifically to use it? Is it geared
towards students who have a little free time? Or will
there be a maker club? All of these will need to be
considered when figuring out what you will get. If its
a drop-in when you have free time makerspace,
Legos would be easier to use than Arduino. If there
will be a specific, regular group, more in-depth
projects can work better.

How do I get supplies?

There are so many different ways to outfit your

makerspace! Youre likely to have more success at
trying to get a few things at a time than seeking a
large grant. Focus on smaller grants, DonorChoose
projects, book fair profits, etc. Also, see what you can
get donated! Many stores are willing to donate
broken electronics for a tech-take-apart station.
Parents likely have things sitting around the house
theyd be happy to give the school.

Maker/Tinker Websites of Interest:

Afterschool Alliance, http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/
Creator's Studio, http://www.creatorsstudio.org/
Curiosity Machine, https://www.curiositymachine.org/
DIY, https://diy.org/
Exploratory, http://www.theexploratory.com/
Hack N Mod, http://hacknmod.com/
High-Low Tech, http://highlowtech.org/
Howtoons, http://www.howtoons.com/
Instructables, http://www.instructables.com/
Learning Creative Learning, http://learn.media.mit.edu/lcl/
Let's Make Robots, http://letsmakerobots.com/
Life Hacker, http://lifehacker.com/

Seek Grants

Tips for Funding a Makerspace:

Apply for company sponsorships

PG&E Bright Ideas: This is a great opportunity for getting

alternative energy related materials. For example, Pacific
Gas & Electric (PG&E) funded a truck conversion and solar
powered scooter last year at Oakland's Lighthouse
Charter School. At another school, a teacher funded an
alternative energy fair where students built their own wind
turbines, biofuel generators, etc. with this award.

Botball Robotics sponsorships: Some teachers seek team

funding from sources like Botball, which offers a
scholarship.

ING Unsung Heroes: Each year, 100 educators are selected

to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class
projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top
awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.

Make Magazine, http://makezine.com/
Make Summer, http://www.makesummer.org/
Maker Education Initiative, http://makered.org/
Maker Guilds, http://www.makerguild.org/
Makers Share Daily, http://paper.li/MakersShare/1400252253
Makerspace Community, http://makerspace.com/
Makerspace Meetups, http://makerspaces.meetup.com/
NY Hall of Science Makerspace, http://makerspace.nysci.org/
Playmaker School, http://www.playmaker.org/
Popupology, http://popupology.co.uk/
Soft Circuit Saturdays, http://softcircuitsaturdays.com/
Sylvia's Super Awesome Maker Show, http://sylviashow.com/
The Tinkering Studio, http://tinkering.exploratorium.edu/

Lowes Toolbox for Education: This is another opportunity

that many teachers have used. Raise $5,000 in minutes
from Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation,
which will help your parent-teacher group achieve even

Schools can secure a grant from their state's Department of

Education or local funders. Grant funding is often an issue for
those who don't have nonprofit status, so you may need to
seek an organization to represent you, such as Tides Center.
Fiscal sponsorship is a cost-effective way to implement new
programs, bring together groups to collaborate on an issue,
and test new approaches to social change.

Fund Project Materials Online

Teachers will often use DonorsChoose.org for project
materials. DonorsChoose lets teachers share their classroom
needs with a thriving community eager to help.

Start a Campaign
Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform where people who
want to raise money can create fundraising campaigns to tell
their story and get the word out. You can design your own
campaign around your new makerspace.

more for your school.

Questions? Please contact:

Nicole Ricciardi
nrricciardi@dons.usfca.edu