Media Center "Makerspaces"

School:: Golden Terrace Elementary
Subject:: Other
Teacher:: Joyce Cordell
Students Impacted:: 350
Grade:: 2
Date:: August 29, 2015

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

License For Learning Plate Fund - $269.99

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 350

My goal was to expand our Makerspaces in the media center to give students more variety of activities. I added an Osmo educational gaming system, Joinks construction sets, and a variety of materials and art supplies. Students love coming to the library for makerspaces; so much so, we had to limit groups to once a week just to accommodate all classes. Students were automatically drawn to the building spaces and the Joinks was a nice addition adding a creative aspect. We regularly offered an art and design center where students made cards, bookmarks, and other seasonal or creative products. Students really enjoy the art center but we have found it is not as independent as some of the other spaces. Lots of directions and material monitoring was required. The Osmo was an amazing addition of technology but it too, needed a lot of support and monitoring. All in all, Makerspaces have revitalized our library making it a true learning environment.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

My goal is to expand our Media Center Makerspaces. A Makerspace is where students can tinker, create, problem solve, and develop thinking skills as they interact with various building materials, art supplies, critical thinking games, and technology.

What will be done with my students

Students who visit the media center can spend time at areas designated as "Makerspaces". Each space houses a variety of supplies and building materials that encourage creative and critical thinking. As the media specialist, I facilitate activities and guide students as needed. STEAM, (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) is incorporated into the activities. This year I would like to add two new spaces. One, a building space, would allow students to construct innovative projects using wooden dowels and flexible connectors. The other incorporates groundbreaking technology by pairing an iPad with an Osmo educational gaming system. Osmo allows students to challenge each other in the physical world while simultaneously interacting with the digital world.

Benefits to my students

Students learn best by doing. As educators, we are always looking for ways to better meet their learning styles and interests. However, the classroom is often limited by lack of space and time for many types of hands-on activities. Media Center Makerspaces will provide a venue for student-led hands-on learning. It's a place where students can have creative freedom and participate in problem solving activities. Students will develop critical thinking skills while increasing their interest in STEM. Makerspaces will also provide students a place to unwind and work off stress and develop social skills.

Budget Narrative

The budget is for two new exciting Makerspaces and the materials needed to resupply already existing ones. The Osmo comes with 4 games/activities including tangrams, engineering, drawing, and word cards.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Osmo	$79.99
2	2 Joinks Construction Sets	$90.00
3	Consumable art supplies	$100.00
	Total:	$269.99

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