Makerspaces for creative learning
Creativity is an increasingly important skill for the workplace of the future. What is creativity? Creativity has been defined as “imaginative thinking or behaviour that is purposeful and leads to …
Course: Makerspaces for Creative Learning
Making across the lifecourse
In this video, Alison travels to New Hampshire to meet with Ollie Bray, Global Director for Connecting Play and Education at the LEGO Foundation to discuss creativity across the lifecourse. …
Bay Area Discovery Museum, California, USA: Case Study
In this video, Alison talks to Dr Lisa Regalla, Deputy Director of the Center for Childhood Creativity at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) was …
Teaching teachers to use MakerBoxes
In this video, Alison shows a group of early years pracitioners from Rotherham how they can use MakerBoxes in their teaching. In Step 2.8, we return to MakerBoxes and demonstrate …
‘Unboxing’ a MakerBox
In this video, Alison talks us through the unboxing of a MakerBox. MakerBoxes were developed by the MakEY project team here in Sheffield and build on the concept of ‘story …
Keeping in touch and moving on
This week, we have considered practical issues with regard to setting up a makerspace, and identified the need to consider issues of diversity and inclusion when planning and delivering them. …
Makerspaces in Museums
A makerspace in a museum enables visitors to engage in activites related to a collection, enhancing their interaction with the exhibits and potentially attracting new visitors. In this article, we’ll …
Art vs science?
Leonardo Di Vinci once said “Study the science of art. Study the art of science…Realise that everything connects to everything else.” However, most modern-day curricula and education systems keep science …
Maker skills in the workplace
This video was filmed in a busy factory and, as a result, some of the conversation is hard to hear. We would urge you to turn on the captions for …
How We Learn in Makerspaces
Studies have shown that participating in makerspaces can develop a wide range of skills and dispositions. But is this always guaranteed? And under what conditions can these skills and dispositions …
Week 3 Summary
In this video, Alison reflects on Week 3, outlining some of the key reasons why she feels makerspaces are so valuable for children, young people and adults. Alison emphasise the …
Week 2 Summary
In this video, Alison summarises the weeks learning and looks forward to the final week of Makerspaces for Creative Learning. As Alison notes, she was so impressed by the Bay …
Week 1 Summary
Congratulations! You have made it to the end of the first week. This week, we have examined the nature of creative learning in makerspaces. How have you found this first …
What is a makerspace?
In this first video, we meet lead educator Dr Alison Buxton, who introduces the concept of a makerspace and explains how they work. Makerspaces are diverse in nature, and the …
Blending art and science through maker activities
Making provides an excellent opportunity to link science and other STEM areas (technology, engineering and maths) with art disciplines to support creativity and promote creative thinking. Increasingly we are seeing …
