What is a STEM Makerspace?

A makerspace, also known by the names “maker lab” and “hakerspace,” is a concept that has been gaining traction as part of the maker movement over the past several years. Makerspaces, at their core, are community spaces with resources for “making.” These spaces can be in their own unique location or can be integrated into libraries or classrooms.

What makes a makerspace?

A makerspace is an area with open space for people to gather and create. These do-it-yourself (DIY) spaces have areas for independent and group work. The resources within a makerspace can vary greatly, based on the materials and tools available. These resources can range from duct tape and craft sticks to 3D printers and computer software programs.

How does a makerspace encourage innovation?

Without the appropriate prompts and questions, a makerspace can feel overwhelming or unfocused. The right curriculum will allow makers to be curious, embrace experimentation and build innovative prototypes.

Makerspaces provide the opportunity for students to take risks, learn from failure, build a tolerance for ambiguity and begin to understand who they are as a maker, inventor and innovator.

How does STEM Maker Lab® enhance your makerspace?

STEM Maker Lab® offers flexible curriculum and implementation options to best fit the parameters of your makerspace location and resources. Consisting of 15 hours of programming, it can be broken out into five sessions with six 30-minute activities per session. This means that the programming can be integrated into an existing STEM lab, into classroom curriculum or run as an afterschool program.

Want to learn more about STEM Maker Lab?

STEM Maker Lab is brought to you by the National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF). NIHF’s PreK to adulthood educations programs promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts, innovation, Intellectual Property Literacy™, entrepreneurship and 21^st century skills.

You can enhance your makerspace today by contacting us at 888-968-4332 or [email protected].

Interested in learning how to help students prepare for the future?

Download our white paper on how to cultivate innovative risk takers who can embrace ambiguity and failure, titled “How to Prepare the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs”.