Makerspaces

[Page 453]Maker culture is a worldwide, grassroots hobbyist movement involving hands-on, do-it-yourself or do-it-with-others building, creating, tinkering, hacking, and crafting. Maker culture employs a diversity of tools and materials—both high-tech and low-tech, digital and physical. Because of the different challenges involved in making with various tools and materials, its educational potential is vast and applicable to a great many disciplinary fields. Most makers meet with other makers in places called makerspaces that contain tools, materials, space to work, inspiration, and the company of others in a supportive community. Many youth-serving makerspaces exist as informal learning centers for youth to attend outside school hours, though many continue to spread into schools as well, and some out-of-school spaces have direct relationships with schools.

The maker movement is being ...