Makerspaces are collaborative learning environments where students and teachers can come together to create, invent, and learn. In this conversation, Bob discusses the key components to making a successful school makerspace and also the struggles that educators might face when trying to build and implement their own makerspaces. Throughout this conversation, Bob emphasizes the importance of project-based learning, exploration, engagement, collaboration, and tenacity. A makerspace should follow a design thinking model, leveraging prototyping and iteration. Bob shares his advice for building a makerspace for a school or classroom, including that it is imperative to have a goal for your makerspace and a plan to achieve that goal. Makerspaces are opportunities for the blending of technology with learning. Furthermore, the physical space is less important than the learning that happens within that space. The tools in your makerspace don’t need to be fancy. For example, cardboard can be your best friend when building prototypes, and you'd be amazed at what you can make with toilet paper tubes!

About Our Guest

Bob Martin is a Tech Integration Specialist with The Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet), part of the University of Missouri System. He has over 20 years of experience teaching adults (and children) how to use technology in education spaces. In his current position, he helped create and run a technology forward makerspace for teachers and students in Missouri to visit, explore, and learn about technology. Bob is currently traveling the state of Missouri, teaching teachers how to blend existing STEM tech they have in the classroom with the state’s new Computer Science standards.