Here at MakerBridge, we’ve each taken a turn this week defining what makerspaces mean to us. Today, as we wrap up our five-day series, we think about how others define it. Here are some definitions from around MakerWorld.
“A makerspace is a physical location where people gather together to share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network, and build. Makerspaces provide tools and space in a community environment – a library, community center, private organization, or campus. Expert advisors may be available some of the time, but often novices get help from other users. The makerspace – sometimes referred to as a hackerspace – is often associated with fields such as engineering, computer science, and graphic design. The concept emerges from the technology-driven “maker culture,” associated with Make magazine and the Maker Faires it promotes. This idea of a collaborative studio space for creative endeavors has caught hold in education, where the informal combination of lab, shop, and conference room form a compelling argument for learning through hands-on exploration. On campus, the makerspace is being embraced by the arts as well as the sciences, and a new energy is building around multidisciplinary collaborative efforts.” – Educause
“The maker movement in libraries is about teaching our patrons to think for themselves, to think creatively, and to look for do-it-yourself solutions before running off to the store. In short, a makerspace is a place where people come together to create with technology.”- Caitlin A. Bagley, ALA TechSource
“Makerspaces, sometimes also referred to as hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn.””- Ellysa Kroski, OEDb
“It’s the place where an idea turns into a thing. A makerspace is the distance between your head and your hands.” – Allison Parker, Make It At Your Library
“I like using a simple definition for Maker Spaces: “A shared work area where people build things collaboratively.” – Michael Groenendyk in Public Libraries News
“[A] way to bring together generations of learners who can share and build on each others’ knowledge and skills that will benefit both the individual and the community.” – Peggy Watts
“It’s not the tools and resources that define a makerspace — A makerspace is defined by what the people create using the available information and resources.” – Patrick Molvick
“Diversity and cross-pollination of activities are critical to the design, making and exploration process, and they are what set makerspaces and STEAM labs apart from single-use spaces.” – Jennifer Cooper, Edutopia
Your turn … how do you define it?
– Kristin Fontichiaro
Image Credit: “I think I’m getting your question”by Flickr user Marina Noordegraaf
