Three Benefits of Adding a Makerspace to Your School Library

In the past few years, makerspaces have become much more common in educational settings. No longer just a part of hackerspaces and fablabs, makerspaces can now be found in a variety of learning environments, from classrooms in preschools to STEM labs in elementary schools and art studios on college campuses.

A growing number of educators and school administrators are beginning to realize that makerspaces can make a huge impact on student learning and school culture. As a result, many schools have added makerspaces to their library. This kind of mentality is in itself revolutionary, since school libraries are traditionally thought of as being quiet, tidy spaces for individual learning. However, more and more, research is showing that students learn best when they can work in a collaborative environment and participate in hands-on activities.

3 Reasons You Should Consider Adding a Makerspace to Your School Library

Adding a makerspace to your school library can have tremendous benefits for your school and students. Below, we’ve discussed some of the advantages.

Equal Access to Resources

State budget cuts have made it increasingly difficult for schools to purchase supplies and equipment for every classroom. Often, teachers take it upon themselves to purchase the materials their class needs. This means that some classes may have better access to resources than others. A makerspace provides a way to share resources and make sure that all students have access to the tools they need to be successful. Teachers can bring their class to the school library for hands-on projects instead of having to purchase supplies and equipment for their classroom. This creates a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Collaborative Learning

There is a reason that so many schools are shifting away from traditional lecture models of teaching and starting to integrate more collaborative and hands-on learning projects. When students can work together through the process of making, they develop important intellectual and life skills. Social skills are built as they learn how to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with their peers. Higher level thinking skills are developed as they try to analyze, apply, and understand the concepts they’ve learned in class. Makerspace stations provide an area where developing all these skills at the same time becomes intrinsic and natural through the process of creating.