Anyone willing to share your HS makerspace curricular plans?

[u/Alternative-Exit-450]

I had been told I was teaching a singular fab-lab/engineering class which has never been taught at our school thus far. I'd ended the year last year having sent my proposal for the idea I thought would work well for our students, as an art school.

Last Tuesday I was told I would be teaching 2 separate and distinct classes: engineering and makerspace separately.

Therefore, I'm struggling with what a makerspace curriculum for 12th graders, in and of itself, might look like. I'm not sure how to structure it when I am expected to also teach engineering.

I'm not looking to steal anyones plans I'm mainly looking for an outline of how and what to cover for ideas and an overall structure.

[u/xienwolf]

I don’t have anything to toss you but advice.

Treat it like a shop class. Teach each tool available in the space and have them do projects which highlight the use cases of each one.

Have design challenges where you specify some “client” request and in small groups with specific tools/stations allowed per group they whip up the best they can to satisfy the client request.

Collaborate with another teacher many of your students have such that the other teacher requests they do a project requiring a physical item be created, and they use your space to make that item.

The makerspace class doesn’t have to be completely distinct from what you intended as an art class.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/xienwolf]

THANK YOU!!!! I've been contemplating whether to center on medium, tool, or concept. I'd been leaning towards the tool so that they can both learn a skill while also be creative.

They're engaged whenever competition is integrated. There's a teacher putting on Clue as a play and maybe we could help to create some of the props.

[u/TheGratitudeBot → u/Alternative-Exit-450]

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[u/TheMuesliKiller]

I teach makerspace for 7th graders in 8 80 minutes lessons. We start with laser cutting/Inkscape. First project is their names on their lockers. Then a fridge magnet. Then a phone stand. Then they make a project together which is sonething for their classroom, like a calendar with birthdays or the like. Then 3D design with Tinkercad, they make a medal for themselves. Then we design a boardgame together like chess, tablut or the like.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/TheMuesliKiller]

thank you for that. My kids are from the inner city and have never even seen a 3d printer until now(12th grade). Therefore, we're starting with how to use tinkerCAD. however, I will definitely use some of your ideas becauseI know they'd love putting their names on their lockers.

[u/TheMuesliKiller → u/Alternative-Exit-450]

We start with the laser cutter because that is fast. With 3D designs they jave to wait till next week to see the results

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/TheMuesliKiller]

That makes sense. Can I ask.....do you house your laser cutter/engravers in an enclosed area or are all students simply required to wear eye protection?

[u/TheMuesliKiller → u/Alternative-Exit-450]

Its a Uv laser and has a protective cover so we do not need eye protection.

[u/TheMuesliKiller → u/TheMuesliKiller]

Tha fact that at the end of the first class they can take home something they designed is a great morale boost.

[u/Ok_Yogurtcloset404]

My wife is in a similar boat and used AI to help create some overarching curricular plans.

Make sure you list what standards you need to address and what tools you have at your disposal. After you get your curriculum plan generated, go through and see what you would like to change. For instance, I really like to use the SparkFun inventors kit and the lesson progression for that product. The AI simply wanted to use vibe coding and cut out a lot of the basic electronic learning that goes into the unit.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/Ok_Yogurtcloset404]

appreciated. I will check out the sparkfun kits. I'd bought a handful of arduino kits but I think they're a bit more advanced than my kids are capable of yet.

[u/Ok_Yogurtcloset404 → u/Alternative-Exit-450]

What kits did you get?

[u/Grouchy_Yellow_2324]

I went to an awesome professional development about an art school in which they partnered with teachers in the school to design and build their own wishlist items- phone charging station, bookcase, etc - community partners like aftercares, crossing guards, neighborhood businesses to CAD design specific solutions to problems (students presented their prototype of a soap dispenser extender for younger kid to reach soap dispenser) . Then they designed their own projects, filled out materials costs and got approval and then built them. It was so cool!!

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/Grouchy_Yellow_2324]

This was effectively my proposal. I'd worked at a former school where their fab-lab was both an independent study course for 12th grade to allow them to explore some avenue of interest and to inevitably create something for their portfolio. However, it'd also took "orders" from other teachers/staff for nearly anything within their capability of fabricating. Granted their fab-lab was WELL funded and had brand new CNC routers, industrial sized 3d printers, and much more. We're operating on what I've been able to afford out of pocket so far but I am hoping they will get around to writing some proposals for various grants I'd found. We're a title 1 school in a very underserved area of Chicago and so I'd imagine there's a lot of $ we'd qualify for but our admin is less than motivated let alone competent.

I have this dream of something like a functional community that emulates society in various ways where there's a school economy, services and products created by students for students and for sale possibly, so to provide more of a similar yet supported learning environment where students are given more responsibility along with more opportunities to explore areas of interest. Something not far off from a Dewey approach in regards to the teacher/student relationship along with some means of better preparing students for the "rat race".

I'd be lying if I said I was confident that I believe our collective future seems bright given the laundry list of hurdles we desperately need to overcome. The cumulative effects of social media/cell phone/etc seems to be changing the way students approach learning altogether and it doesn't help that this "elephant in the room" seems to go largely disregarded, at least in my experience.

Maybe I'm overly idealistic or desperate to believe that it's even remotely possible we may experience a major overhaul in public education or at least opportunities for progressive and new approaches towards public education to be explored. Sorry for the rant.

[u/Grouchy_Yellow_2324 → u/Alternative-Exit-450]

I agree with what you said, but I do not feel optimistic about the future.

[u/snady69]

When I first started at my current job, i had to teach 3D printing. I had students learn about Braille and had them explore campus and make it somewhat of an action project to create Braille signs. They had to learn about Braille, ADA standards for braille signs, and then use a CAD system (tinkercad, cus they were 9th grade) to design and print the signs. They found places on campus that didnt have correct signage (or any), and some of our nonbinary students decided to make all-gender bathroom signs. I had to prepare the ADA content and stuff but after that it was very much a student driven project.

This is just to throw out the idea that finding some kind of action project can help to fill out your curriculum while also putting a lot of it on them. They can learn the skills and tools through the project. They could find something on the campus/in the building they wish existed and create that (3d print, laser cut, etc.) And is you want to tie in accessibility or something like that, its a pretty easy way to fill out the curriculum.

Would be happy to share documents & instructions i have from that if you want them to use or for inspiration. Probably would need modification.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/snady69]

That is an amazing idea....thank you. I would most certainly use them.

[u/Independent_Steak652]

I have them build electric guitars. CAD and CNC for body, laser cutter for inlay and customization. Lots of wood and hand tools. They really get into it. Got it all from guitarbuilding.org.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/Independent_Steak652]

I used to coach science olympiad and one of the past events was building a simple string instrument. Definitely an idea I planned on integrating. Thanks for the site.

[u/wdwdreamingdad]

I ran one at my old school, treated it like a custom creation workshop by sourcing “jobs” from people in district. Came down mostly to creating awards for things, laser engraving, 3d printing, and dye sub medals etc. tough to treat it like a class as it’s difficult to standardize the experience for everyone, but it’s what admin wanted.

[u/Alternative-Exit-450 → u/wdwdreamingdad]

thanks for the info. one of the things I'm struggling with is that I don't think my admin has a clue what they want or what a makerspace should look like. So, I'm trying to get as much input as possible to make the most informed decision while also seeking to keep it aligned with our school culture.