During the 2017-2018 school year, Mr. Gibson (then principal at Brookfield Middle School) began a study of Maker Space technologies and assembled a team of Brookfield teachers and administrators with the intention of visiting several facilities and researching the use of Maker Space in public schools. The idea had promise and the dream of launching a Maker Space in the Brookfield Local Schools was born.
After lots of planning and meetings and ideas (and three generous grants later) the Brookfield Local Schools launched their first Maker Space in January 2020. Since the time of our launch we have witnessed some amazing things as a result of our Maker Space.
On a daily basis we see smiles, frustration, successes and some failures.
We have students and teachers applying learning and concepts and creating amazing projects bringing their dreams and ideas to life.
We have prototyped, manufactured, remanufactured a drone designed by our Drone Team (Brookfield Fuel) and flown at the National Championship in Denver, Colorado in May 2023.
We experiment, measure, dream, wonder and often ask "what if" and often comment "the next time".
Most importantly, we learn and we grow.
The question now becomes, why? The Research is clear and points to the value of creativity, planning, design and technology.
Please see the articles linked below for more information...
Makerspace is a relatively new method of teaching students in a space where they can get hands-on experience working with concepts they recently learned. The point of the space is to make, create, and invent new things. There are many advantages to giving students a place to apply concepts, and those benefits are true for all areas and fields of study.
https://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-reasons-to-create-makerspaces-in-your-school/