My setup mistakes My school talks a lot about grit, learning pits, and growth mindset. I definitely started out in the pit and revisited it a few times while I was working on setting up our two 3D printers! I didn't know anything about setting up a 3D printer and had never used one before when I sat down to do it about two weeks ago. If I can set one up, you certainly can too, but maybe you can avoid a few of the rookie mistakes I made.
The printer I ordered (New Matter's MOD-t) came with a few setup instructions and directions on where to go for full instructions and pictures on their website. The website's instructions were thorough and very user friendly. They made setup easy! I got one of the printers up and running on the counter using my laptop quickly and was amazed at how easy it was...but then I realized I had made two mistakes that would need fixed: Mistake #1 was setting up the first of two printers through my teacher laptop instead of through the computer it'd be hooked up to on a regular basis. I thought we'd be able to house the printers on the counter and print wirelessly. Nope! The printers do have that capability, but my space just can't support that the way I wanted, and the computers I'll need to use for printing are all hardwired to the internet. So I then quickly enlisted the help of our building technology specialist, who helped me remove two of the computers to put a 3D printer on each end of that front row of two of computers. We had to undo the wiring of those, and then I setup the wiring of the printers to connect them to those computers.
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The one thing I didn't take into account when I ordered makerspace items was unboxing! Some of the items took a fair amount of time and a few plastic/paper cuts to get unboxed, and I definitely made a bigger mess before I made a smaller one!
About two weeks ago now I worked on barcoding and organizing the makerspace items we have so far. I basically barcoded EVERYTHING so that we can keep track of what we have, who is using it, and be able to check our inventory as the space will continue to grow. My district uses Follett's Destiny, but I'm sure you could barcode and enter your makerspace items in any library system. I always keep several extra barcodes on hand that I printed out on Avery labels myself using Destiny. I didn't barcode the 3D printers at this time, because I don't see them ever leaving the counter they're currently on, but I'm considering barcoding them later for inventory purposes. I mulled over what our makerspace rules should be for a while. I didn't want to have a lot of rules. I didn't want to have a lot of do not's or no's. But as any educator knows, you need some rules or expectations to have things work. From all of the blog posts I've read and conversations I've had, it sounded like clean up was one of the most important rules to establish early on. Someone (Can't remember who, I'm sorry!) mentioned needing to keep students from undoing or damaging the work of others, which gave me my second rule. Then I wanted to make sure students weren't being wasteful and were using resources well, thus 3 and 4 were born. And then I believe that rules 5 and 6 about collaboration and attitude are something all makerspaces should be trying to encourage. As long as you have the right intentions and priorities that work for you and your students, there isn't a wrong starting list. Everyone starts with different items. As long as you have the right intentions and priorities that work for you and your students, there isn't a wrong starting list. With the grant money I mentioned when I talked about budgeting and planning here, it was important to me to get a balance of tech and non tech items, but I also didn't have a lot of money and needed to be extra frugal. With my starting items, I also wanted to get things students could explore more independently and in the library. This was before I knew I'd be able to turn a computer lab into a designated makerspace, which I'll be undertaking this school year.
The starting list from the grant money:
I've had a dream of starting a school library makerspace ever since I made the switch from classroom English teacher to school librarian two years ago. I had already heard of them and read about them and thought they sounded AMAZING. Creativity, technology, problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and trying new things! What's not to love? So last summer when I attended a summer PD in my district that had a session on grants, I jumped at the chance to learn about grants. I then applied for and got a small grant from my district's education foundation. Fast forward to this past winter, and we had some funds to spend on technology. Some of those funds got allotted for collaboration stations and some for a makerspace. I ordered the items in the spring for us to use this coming school year. In both of these cases I worked to make sure I got the most bang for my buck. When you have a chance to use funding for a makerspace, you want to put money in things that will benefit students and have impact, but you also want to do that as cost effectively as possible to get more. So how do you get the most bang for the buck with provided funds or prepare a grant proposal budget?1. Brainstorm. After scouring blog posts like this one
To begin, begin. I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog for months, maybe even a year, but I never did.
Why? Time is certainly a factor. I recently finished my second year in a school library as a Library Media Specialist after five years as an ELA teacher and still feel like I have a lot to learn. Although I think it's a position where I'm always going to feel that way, which I actually love. I also have two young children, the second of whom was just born in late April. But time can't be the only thing holding me back. So why? Eureka! During my second #notatiste (a community that tries to learn from the ISTE conference and each other even though we cannot physically be there), I figured out the problem. I had spent so much time trying to plan and overthinking my theoretical blog instead of just starting one! (Hence the William Wordsworth quote above.) I also realized I am afraid to publicly fail. Failing is one thing, but for others to see me fail professionally is another story. I've taken risks before in my career and lessons as an educator, but if I'm being honest, most of |