Reasons to Incorporate the Makerspace into Your Class

• Build a classroom community within your class by giving your students an opportunity to collaborate and bond.
• Enhance troubleshooting skills and creativity
• Expose students to emerging technologies

Standard Visits

• Bring your class for a general brief orientation visit.  This is a brief tour that covers basic information on all of the technology in the Makerspace and how students can make appointments for individual assistance.  (15 min)
• Bring your class for an "open house style" 60-90 minute visit.  During this visit, Makerspace librarians guide students from station to station.  This visit exposes students in greater depth to all the technology in the makerspace, and gives them a better idea on how they can use it.  Students also learn how they can make appointments for individual assistance to work on projects.
• Bring your class for a specific demonstration of an individual technology.  During the demonstration, students will gain greater knowledge on one particular technology such as the electronic cutting tool, 3D printer, virtual technology, etc

Project and Assignment Ideas

• Collaboration and Experimentation with a Writing Element:
  1. Students visit the Makerspace for one or two sessions to experience and/or create something in groups.
  2. Students work in groups to prepare a writting assignment based on the experience.  The writing assignment could be a reflective essay or procedural technical writing document.
• Collaboration and Experimentation with an Oral Element:
  1. Students visit the Makerspace for one or two sessions to experience and/or create something in groups.
  2. Students work in groups to prepare a video blog post, using the One Button Studio, based on the experience.  The blog post could be reflective or procedural.
• Collaboration and Written and Oral Communication:
  1. Class is divided into groups. Each group is assigned to a particular station.
  2. Each group is to read and follow the written instructions on how to use the equipment.  If they need more information, they are encouraged to use iPads to find additional instructions on the web.  Students will use their reading and oral skills to communicate and collaborate as a group. They will also use their troubleshooting and creativity skills to use the station to accomplish a task or to make something.
• Creative Challenge
  1. Work in groups to learn about the tools in the makerspace, then find and solve a problem.
  2. At a later class date, each group presents the problem and solution in a creative way (presentation, skit, video, performance, etc.).
• Art Design challenge
  1. Ask students to work in groups or individually to design an object or character.
  2. Students are to use their own tools and Makerspace tools to make a physical representation of the object.
  3. Students share their creations with the class and/or social media.
• VR Art Challenge
  1. Students work in pairs or groups to plan their themed sketches.
  2. outside of Tilt Brush.
  3. Each group presents to the class their themes and share their sketches in an innovative way (incorporating graphics, video, or new media elements into their presentations).
• Make a New Friend (Low Stress Fun Collaboration)
  1. Students take a brief "interest" poll, then the class is divided into groups based on "themed" common fun factors (favorite color, afraid of the spiders, Pepsi vs. Coke, etc.).
  2. Students get a brief orientation to the tools and resources in the makerspace.
  3. Students are to collaborate in groups to do something in the makerspace.  As they work on their project, they are to talk within themselves to learn more about each other.
  4. At the end of class, students who normally do not engage with each other will get a chance to get to meet someone new.
     Optional - at the end of class, partners should introduce each other to the class.
• 3D Printer Design Semester Challenge
  1. Students work in groups or individually to design an object related to the class or a social issue.
  2. Students make an appointment to schedule a time to print the object.
  3. Students present their designs to the class and/or social media.
  4. Optional - students write a reflective/procedural paragraph about their experience.
• LeoPoly Design Semester Challenge
  1. Students work in pairs or individually to digitally design an object using LeoPoly on the zSpace machine.
  2. Students make appointments to schedule a time to work with zSpace.
  3. Students share their designs to the class and/or social media.
  4. Optional - students write a reflective/procedural paragraph about their experience.
• Poster Design Semester Challenge
  1. Students work in pairs or individually to design the poster (audience, theme, graphical elements, fonts, message, purpose, copyright infringement avoidance).
  2. Students make appointments to schedule a time to have their posters previewed and printed by the librarian.
  3. Students share their designs to the class and/or social media.
  4. Optional - students write a reflective/procedural paragraph about their experience.

Whether your course is online, hybrid, or face-to-face with an online component, you can add an embed librarian inside individual courses in Desire2Learn. The embedded librarian provides assistance to the class or to individual students regarding research projects, library resources, academic integrity, and documentation. Collaborate with your librarian to design engaging projects relating to information literacy and student success.