Resource:HOW TO CONVINCE OTHER STUDENT ORGS TO ESTABLISH THEIR HOME IN YOU CAMPUS MAKER SPACE
Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Where to locate the maker space?
- 3 Academic permissions required to start a maker space
- 4 How should we manage both engineering and entrepreneurship simultaneously?
- 5 How to convince other student orgs to establish their home in our maker space and uproot the disputes?
- 6 Lessons learned from Forrest Satterfield
- 7 Written by
Introduction
Maker space is a collaborative workspace inside school, library for making learning, exploring and sharing their views under the same roof. “Alone we can do little things, together we can do much” and so the maker space will be a great platform for the students to exchange their views and build their career as the maker space will provide them the resources they require.
Need for a maker space
Maker spaces provide creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, and analyse as they deeply engage in science, engineering. Therefore, it must be designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, tools and materials. So students from various streams come under one roof and implement their thoughts to actions. For example if a student comes to us with an excellent thought which will be useful when put into action, we can help him in projecting his ideas by providing resources he require.
Tools required to start a maker space
Before you start a maker space from scratch you need a have a list of some prerequisites. Some of them include:
1. Arduino: Arduino is a prototyping material that is used by all for making innovative project
2. Cardboard: This is one of the low cost prototype materials which are very flexible and
can be used by all streams.
3. L.E.D’s: These are mandatory for the maker spaces where the research will also be on the
electronic circuits which will be helpful in knowing the outputs.
4. 3d-bio printers: This tool may break your budget, but yes when put into use these printers can be helpful when provided in low costs.
There are still many more supplies which will be very useful such as raspberry pi, tapes, boards, mine crafts, good maker space layout, laser cutter, electrical power, computer servers, and networking with Internet connectivity. Machine tools, sewing, audio equipment, video projectors.
Where to locate the maker space?
A maker space must be built in a place where there will a great exchange of knowledge and the place where all students come under one roof. A location close to outdoor work areas allows for larger projects. Access to electricity is important. The maker space should be located in calm atmosphere and it should not disturb activities of other students. One of the things learned from Forrest Satterfield is that maker space it is good to locate the maker space in or near to “LIBRARY” because students from different streams come under one roof and there will a lot of scope to explore the things which are not known to us in the library itself. When a student comes to library, he’ll notice this library maker space and start exploring about the supplies and will come to know the new technologies emerging around the world.
One more point to be considered is that once the maker space is done, students will automatically show interest in lateral thinking and this small change in students will lead to a huge change in the campus.
Academic permissions required to start a maker space
Firstly the members of the maker space should start from the student level i.e., we have to know the requirements of the students, the problems they are facing in learning and in what way they want to get it solved. Once if you win the hearts of your peers, you’ll have a good support for your maker space. They act as a backbone for you.
Yet, still there is a need for the permissions to be granted. If you are from the “school of engineering “, you need to talk to your Dean-Academics about your maker space and get things done. But if you are a student from “school of business “, firstly you require your professor or the Head of the Department permission followed by your Institute Dean permission.
How should we manage both engineering and entrepreneurship simultaneously?
The answer to this question seems to be simple but when it put into practice it requires great determination. One of the things learnt from Forrest Satterfield is that he could manage them simultaneously by his “Time Management” skills. We have to maintain a track of our actions through the Google calendar and get things done on time. There is no shortcut for success. If you want to succeed, then start Woking from now.
How to convince other student orgs to establish their home in our maker space and uproot the disputes?
When you are given a chance to invite other student orgs, it means that your maker space is taking lead to turn out many thoughts to actions .but convincing them is a task for us. We have to ask them in a humble way and try to explain the resources in your maker space and try to explain them in different ways. Once you are good at explaining them their benefits and the students benefit by their org, I am sure that they will accept your invitation. Its better to always keep a track of colleges.
Working in a team is wonderful, but still there may be a chance for the disputes to arise due to many reasons like difference of opinions, lack of coordination etc. but we have to handle them with ease and concentrate on our work. We have to explain them that it isn’t just about individual growth, it’s for all. If they don’t listen to you or your perception, better to leave the bad behind and move forward. Remember, your efforts will never go wasted. Keep going.
Who would take the charge of maker space and how to have a record of maker space?
We need to have members in our work space in such a way that they must be willing to show up when we ask them to show up. There shouldn’t be any ambiguity in their words & works. One such person can lead it successfully.
We need to have the pop classes which helps us to maintain the data on who could use the maker space and to which extent. This helps us to know about the requirements of the students and could improvise them.
Advertising efforts
In today’s technical world, there is no need of any special advertising efforts. Our social media will look after all such things. So it’s better not to spend much on these activities, instead spend on something that would be useful for our maker space.
Key aspects of a maker space
It’s all about culture and people. The people with good culture constitute an excellent maker space. There should be a way to promote creativity and innovativeness in students. The word impossible should seem to I am possible in our maker space.
Lessons learned from Forrest Satterfield
Forrest Satterfield shared his valuable time and experiences with us. He shared the difficulties he faced and described the architecture of his maker space.
Learn from the failure. Fail should be seen as the first attempt in learning. Everyone does mistakes but learning from mistakes makes a man successful in his career.
Make change, move forward. Don’t stop till you get it done.
Keep learning, keep going.
