Physical Plant

McDonald Library Renovations

In spring 2015 the Library and Information Technologies' Infrastructure and Technology Support area applied for a Women of Excellence grant to expand the Makerspace in the CLC adjacent to the Connection Center. The Makerspace in the CLC had been in existence since the Library received a SWON grant to purchase 3D printers in 2014.

The Xavier University Library and IT's Infrastructure and Technology Support area received the WOE grant. During the summer of 2015, the group began assessing the CLC space to determine the best location for the Makerspace. Following conversation with Physical Plant and others that were consulted, the space in the CLC adjacent to the Connection Center was deemed unviable. The group began assessing other spaces within the McDonald Library and CLC. The Connection Express location on the first floor of the library was finally selected in early fall based on the following attributes; location close to the academic mall, visibility in the library by patrons, flexibility of the space itself and the ability to integrate the duties of library staff from the location in with those at the CLC.

Makerspaces provide tools, equipment, technology, software and expertise in a shared, open environment. Participants are encourage to think creatively and critically. Makerspaces foster a common culture of learning, building, and creating together.

Here is a selection of web resources that are great sites for learning more about what's going on with the Makerspace movement in our schools:

§ http://spaces.makerspace.com/: There are plenty of posts here focused on the Makerspace movement in education.

§ The Case for a Campus Makerspace: Hack Education's Audrey Watters makes the case for creating Makerspaces in our Higher Education institutions.

§ 6 Strategies for Funding a Makerspace: Some great ideas for funding a Makerspace in your school.

§ The Philosophy of Educational Makerspaces: This article is a reprint from the June 2014 issue of Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals. It is "a thoughtful and insightful examination of the philosophy and pedagogical underpinnings of the maker movement."

The current educational system is often criticized for being stale and outdated so it is important that projects such as the Makerspace Movement are recognized. The world is changing rapidly and it is essential that our teaching techniques follow suit to maintain their relevance.

The Makerspace Movement is here to stay and should be welcomed and encouraged!

Getting to Know the Makerspace Movement in Education by JAMES BROADBEAN on JULY 6, 2014

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2014/07/makerspace-movement-in-education/