Transforming Learning in the Learning Commons/Library

Purpose & objective

The pandemic and virtual learning created significant learning gaps for more students and states are requiring additional direct instruction for those students who did not meet state requirements. Teachers are less likely to allow students to participate in library and Makerspace opportunities due to missed instructional time. Students who require additional instruction and tutoring often miss out what are considered extracurricular and enrichment opportunities.

The purpose for this Ed-Talk is to inspire media specialist and technology integrators to reflect on library, Makerspace, and STEAM programming to ensure inclusiveness and accessibility to all learners, to inspire attendees to help close learning gaps by facilitating cross-curricular STEAM opportunities that align with state standards and student learning objectives, consider the why, and design student-driven spaces that facilitate opportunities for student choice, leadership, discovery, exploration, collaboration, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity.

Attendees will be inspired to consider flexible scheduling, which allows the Learning Commons/library to be used for multiple purposes at the same time, while providing a balance between literacy and STEAM opportunities.

Evidence of Success
We have noticed increased student engagement, teacher’s requesting assistance with curriculum and technology integration, and administration recognizing the library as a model 21st century classroom.

My Learning Commons and Makerspace have become a go-to school for Makerspace walk-throughs in North Texas. Many administrators, superintendents, technology specialists, and librarians visit our school. Many want to know the must have tools, how to design the space, where to start, and about management, organization, funding, and scheduling. I usually spend 3-4 hours sharing our story.

Outline

CONTENT AND TIME SPENT ON EACH CONTENT COMPONENT

5 minutes: Where we started, impact of Covid 19 on programming, where we are now, why we changed course, and how it is going

15 minutes: Makerspace
• The difference between a Makerspace vs. STEM Lab
• Role and expectations for the media specialist, teacher, students (student ownership for self-discovery, growth, and exploration)
• It's not about the stuff- focus on the 4 C's (collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking)
• Top elementary STEAM and Makerspace tools (based on our experience, student preferences, and student success and growth over the years)

15 minutes: Makerspace Monthly Stations
• Getting started - whole class orientations
• Student and teacher expectations
• Scheduling, organization, management
• The Bennett Makerspace Google Site
• Makerspace student self-paced Canvas course - Student's take ownership of their learning and are independent, motivated, self-directed learners
• Flipped and Blended Learning

10 minutes: The Learning Commons: A model 21st century classroom
• The Media Specialist as a co-teacher
• Cross-curricular, standards aligned literacy and STEAM opportunities for students
• STEAM integration across disciplines using Makerspace tools
• Purposeful, intentional, relevant, and engaging activities
that support or enrich the curriculum or replace a classroom lesson to ensure instructional time is maximized

5 minutes: Picture Book STEM and Readerspace

10 minutes: Q & A

Supporting research

The effects of a makerspace curriculum on the 4C's in education by Staci Novak
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1908&context=grp

Fostering a greater understanding of Science in the Classroom Through Children’s Literature by Masomeh-Hagheighi, Roxie Yerba, Robin D. Johnson, and Lucinda N. Soh
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1183979.pdf

Picturebooks in the Primary Grades: Representation and the Stories Shared About Who Belongs in STEM by Victoria Cardullo and Megan Burton
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10643-022-01379-2

Motivational factors in makerspaces: a mixed methods study of elementary school students’ situational interest, self-efficacy, and achievement emotions by Vanessa Vongkulluksn, Ananya Matewos, Gale Sinatra, and Julie Marsh
https://stemeducationjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40594-018-0129-0

What is the point of a Makerspace by Jennifer Gonzalez
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/makerspace/

What you really need to create a Makerspace by Diana Rendina
https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/really-need-create-makerspace/

What is a Makerspace? Creativity in the Library by Caitlin A. Bagley
https://www.ala.org/tools/article/ala-techsource/what-makerspace-creativity-library

Inclusive Makerspaces, Fab Labs, and STEM Labs by Tyler S. Love, Ken R. Roy, and Matthew T. Marino
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1241452

STEM Literacies in Makerspaces: Implications for Learning, Teaching, and Research by Eli Tucker-Raymond, Brian E. Gravel
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781351256728/stem-literacies-makerspaces-eli-tucker-raymond-brian-gravel

Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student by John Spencer and A J Juliani

Making for All: How to Build an Inclusive Makerspace by Sylvia Martinez  
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-05-10-making-for-all-how-to-build-an-inclusive-makerspace

Empowering Teacher Librarians to Support STEM Education: Preliminary Findings by Melissa Johnston
https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/slw/index.php/iasl/article/view/7432

The show must go on! Strategies for making and makerspaces during pandemic by Marianne Kinnulaa, Iván Sánchez Milarabc, Behnaz Norouziac, Sumita Sharmaa, Netta Iivaria
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212868921000337

8 questions to ask before creating a makerspace by Diana Fingal
https://www.iste.org/explore/ISTE-blog/8-questions-to-ask-before-creating-a-makerspace?articleid=767