In the spring of 2022 unconference events (edcamp style) on facilitating learning in makerspaces, Fab Labs and creative labs were held virtually. More than 80 people actively contributed to the discussions. A practical guide, summarizing the exchanges and offering keys to anyone who wants to create a creative lab, has just been made public. The PDF version is available exclusively on the École branchée website.
(English version follows...)
The Makerspaces for Learning, Living & Sharing guide is only available in English for the moment. The French version will be released later this spring. Since the majority of the Unconferences were held in English, it was faster to write the first version in English. Most of the participants were from Quebec, but as the events unfolded and were shared online, new participants joined from other Canadian provinces, the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa.
The Spring 2022 events were organized under the leadership of Ann-Louise Davidson (Concordia University), Nadia Naffi (Laval University) with the participation of three students: Nathalie Duponsel, Houda Jawhar and Geneviève Lamarche. The guide was designed by Don Undeen, also a student.
In all, seven events took place as part of a collaboration between Concordia University's Innovation Lab, the Musée de la civilisation de Québec and the Institute Milieux pour l'art, la culture et la technologie.
The following topics were discussed:
- COVID-19 learnings, what to do when makerspaces* are closed
- Create a network between makerspaces
- Preparing makerspace facilitators
- Community Engagement and the Life Cycle of Makerspaces
- The maker movement in formal educational settings
- The "maker" kits
Of podcasts were created in advance for each theme and are still available on the project website.
A practical guide for everyone
In order to keep track of the exchanges and to disseminate the knowledge shared during the events to as many people as possible, the research team worked on the design of a "Playbook", a practical guide of about 100 pages that is intended to be accessible to all.
Each section is presented in a question-and-answer format and offers examples, testimonials, checklists, and very concrete ideas that can be easily picked up by anyone interested in creating a makerspace, FabLab, or open creative space.
Among the questions:
- What skills do makerspace facilitators need?
- How to make your makerspace known in the community?
- As a teacher, how can I prepare to experience the makerspace with my students?
- What should be in a kit maker?
Each section also contains spaces with planning elements that the reader can complete themselves to add to their thinking as they go through the guide. The guide can be read from page to page. The reader can also browse from one section to another according to his or her interests.
This project was made possible through the support of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Connections Grant and the collaboration of the Musée de la civilisation (Quebec).
* The project team opted to keep the terms "makers" and "makerspaces" in French, since the expressions "laboratoire créatif" and "usagers des laboratoires créatifs" do not represent the maker spirit well. The latter refers more to the making aspect of the maker movement.
Download the Playbook
"Makerspaces for Learning, Living & Sharing (in English)
French version, coming in May 2023
Makerspaces for Learning, Living & Sharing: a playbook now available
During the Winter 2022, the Education Makers research team held virtual unconference events (edcamp-style) on facilitating learning in makerspaces, Fab Labs, and creative labs. Over 80 people actively contributed to the discussions. A practical guide, summarizing the discussions and offering tips to anyone who wants to maintain, revive or launch a makerspace, has just been released. The PDF version is available exclusively on the École branchée website.
The playbook "Makerspaces for Learning, Living & Sharing is only available in English for the moment. The French version will be released later this Spring. Since most of the discussions at the Unconferences were held in English, it was quicker to write the first version in English. Most of the participants were from Quebec, but as the events unfolded and were shared online, new participants joined from other Canadian provinces, the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa.
The Winter 2022 events were organized under the leadership of Ann-Louise Davidson (Concordia University), Nadia Naffi (Laval University) with the participation of three students: Nathalie Duponsel, Houda Jawhar and Geneviève Lamarche. The guide was designed by Don Undeen, also a student.
Seven events took place as part of a collaboration between Concordia University's Innovation Lab, the Musée de la civilisation de Québec and the Institute Milieux pour l'art, la culture et la technologie.
The following topics were discussed:
- COVID-19 learnings, what to do when makerspaces are closed
- Creating a network of makerspaces
- Preparing makerspaces facilitators
- Community engagement and sustainability of makerspace
- Making in formal education
- Maker Kits
Bilingual podcasts were created in advance for each theme and are still available on the project website.
A practical guide for everyone
In order to keep track of the discussions and disseminate the knowledge shared during the events to as many people as possible, the research team worked on the design of a "Playbook", a practical guide of about 100 pages that is meant to be freely accessible to everyone.
Each section is presented in a question-and-answer format and offers examples, testimonials, checklists, and very concrete ideas that can be easily picked up by anyone interested in creating a makerspace, FabLab, or open creative space.
Among the questions:
- What skills are required by makerspace facilitators?
- How do I get the word out about my makerspace in the community?
- As a teacher, how can I prepare to experience the makerspace with my students?
- What should a makerspace kit contain?
Each section also contains spaces with planning elements that the reader can complete on their own to fuel their thinking as they go through the guide. The guide can be read from page to page. The reader can also browse from one section to another according to their own interests.
This project was made possible with the support of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Connections Grant program and the collaboration of the Musée de la civilisation (Québec).
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