Maker expert Nick Provenzano saw firsthand how creative students could get when given the opportunity to create with cardboard. When he introduced Makedo™ tools to the mix, students took their creations to the next level.
Looking for ways to ramp up the STEM learning in your library or classroom? Take a closer look at K’NEX. K’NEX are a popular and versatile building tool for all age groups, and they allow students to quickly design, prototype and iterate. Get students’ gears turning with three quick K’NEX challenges from Diana Rendina.
Administrators play a key role in leading the charge for creativity and innovation in their schools. Find out how you can best support a makerspace initiative in your school or library from an administrator who has spearheaded new makerspaces in two different districts.
The real-world design challenge Diana Rendina gave her students resulted in a maker cart that is now manufactured by Custom Educational Furnishings (CEF) and offered through Demco. Read on to learn how you can offer your students authentic design challenges in your makerspace.
If you’re looking for validation that makerspaces belong in libraries, seasoned maker and librarian Diana Rendina has got you covered. Explore these 5 important reasons and share them with stakeholders to help them understand how a makerspace can benefit your school community.
If you’re familiar with Sphero®, you know that this tiny, highly engaging robot will have kids coding and creating in no time. Get students started with four popular design challenges from Diana Rendina.
Cardboard is the perfect medium to get your kids started with making – it’s free, it’s abundant, and what kid doesn’t see potential in a cardboard box? Learn how makerspace veteran Angela Rosheim helps her students take their cardboard creations to the next level with Makedo™ tools and connectors.
Learn how you can promote creativity, teamwork and experimentation by creating a STEM club for middle-schoolers. Amanda Bressler helps you face down your fear of not being the expert, walks you through program setup and gives you a simple challenge to get kids started.
Holding a Maker Fest in your school or library is a great way to showcase all the wonderful learning taking place in your makerspace. Diana Rendina walks you through the details, gives you ideas for stations, and helps you make sure your own Maker Fest will be successful.
Ready to get kids excited about coding? Library Journal Maker Hero Alisha Wilson shares how she draws a crowd with her Coding for a Cookie event with three key steps. You’ll gain a host of coding resources, learn about setting up stations and get tips on advertising your event.
You’ve prepped, planned and set up your makerspace, now how do you make sure that students and staff use it? Nick Provenzano brings you ideas on how you can engage students and get staff excited about the learning opportunities offered by your makerspace.
Makerspaces can get messy! Do you have a strategy to stay organized? Angela Rosheim offers ideas to keep your school or library makerspace materials in order and easy to find. You’ll also get storage tips, ideas for handling works in progress and advice on how to get students to help keep your makerspace in order.
After using their geometry skills to create string art, Winnetka fourth-graders supersized their projects using the hands-on makerspace tool Rigamajig. Learn how they created a giant-sized protractor and took their string art experience outdoors to apply engineering, math and art concepts.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 68 children. You can use your makerspace not only to bring awareness to ASD, but also to engage children of all abilities. To celebrate Autism Awareness Month in April, Gina Seymour provides you with five maker activities and tips on how to offer programming that’s both inclusive and fun year-round.
Did you miss the Feb. 22 #DemcoMakerChat about meaningful making? No worries! You can still learn from your peers about how to promote meaningful making in your makerspace. Here are some of the great responses shared during the chat. For the full archive, search #DemcoMakerChat on Twitter.
In the second installment of the Demco Master Maker blog series, Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, talks funding and gives you tips on how to build an engaging and educational makerspace.
Demco Master Maker Nicholas Provenzano, aka @thenerdyteacher, talks meaningful making and how to create an inclusive learning environment that supports the Maker Mindset. Learn the different ways you can implement and diversify your makerspace to meet the needs of all students and staff.
See how Demco’s design team executed an award-winning learning commons design that meets the needs of today’s learners and educators.
In this first installment of the Demco Master Maker blog series, expert Nicholas Provenzano, aka The Nerdy Teacher, shares his background, talks about the importance of makerspaces in schools, gives a preview of the topics he’ll be addressing in future posts, and invites you to join the conversation during the monthly #DemcoMakerChat on Thursday nights.
Libraries are safe spaces, known for finding ways to welcome everyone, and makerspaces within libraries should be no different. Award-winning library media specialist Gina Seymour provides tips and resources for how to welcome and accommodate all users in your makerspace.
Need to add a little art to your STEAM makerspace? Looking for a way to motivate summer reading program participants? Love collaborative art pieces? Read what librarians shared about how they are using StickTogether mosaic posters for all this and more and steal some ideas for your own library!
According to teacher-librarian Angela Rosheim, “Just having students make will not automatically create deep learning — you need to have sound pedagogy to go along with it.” In this blog Angela shares how she integrates making into her curriculum, along with a fun lesson plan that combines research with design thinking.
Adding a STEAM component to a literacy assignment can encourage students to think more deeply about what they are reading and writing. Library Journal’s Maker Hero School Librarian of the Year Alisha Wilson shares three ways you can collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate robotics, circuitry and coding into English class.
Media specialist and author Diana Rendina discusses the benefits of providing guided instruction through maker workshops and shares tips and ideas you can put into practice right away.
Diana Rendina details 3 engaging makerspace projects that fit right in with the 2017 Teen Read Week (Oct. 8–14) theme: “Unleash Your Story.” Students will be eager to tell their stories with these creative activities that combine literacy and making.
You’re ready to start creating your makerspace, but what kind of furniture and seating will you need? Use this handy checklist to help you decide how you will you use your space and what you need to think about when choosing furnishings.
Find ways to promote compassionate making with makerspace projects that connect students to their school, the community, the world and the environment.
A cardboard building project turned into a successful library makerspace and countless opportunities for students to learn through making.
Not a tech wizard? Try these 3 low-tech makerspace projects from Diana Rendina and see learning through making come to life in your library!
Looking for the next new tech tool to add to your makerspace? See how School Librarian of the Year Todd Burleson is using drones to engage students and teach coding in his classroom.
When Massapequa school officials got an idea, they made it a reality in a big way. See how they updated 6 of their elementary libraries with modern makerspaces and started seeing positive learning outcomes as a result.
The Demco Makerspace Survey revealed the pain points many librarians have with starting and running a makerspace, but it also revealed some great advice for meeting those challenges head on. See what your peers had to say about their makerspaces and get tips and pointers.
Teen Tech Week is March 5-11 and master maker Diana Rendina has got you covered. Diana shares 5 makerspace projects that will inspire teens to become change agents in their communities while practicing the design process.
See how Holly Storck-Post, a youth services librarian at the Madison Public Library (WI), has found ways to take her LEGO programming to the next level.
Children’s Librarian Holly Storck-Post brings STEAM, making and literature together with four preschool programs for preschoolers — happy making!
The results are in and one lucky makerspace fan has won a $250 Demco gift certificate! See who the winner is and read why your peers think makerspaces are essential to libraries.
Follow the lean startup process to makerspace success: start small, give yourself the freedom to fail and be willing to learn from your mistakes.
Looking for ways to take STEM programming to the next level? Check out MeeperBOTS! These mobile-app-controlled motorized BOTS bring LEGOs® to life. Plus get a tried-and-true program that’s sure to capture kids’ interest.
Accomplished maker and educator Heather Lister provides you with sample projects and resources to incorporate the maker movement within your school, library or classroom (or all three!), with little to no technology requirements.
Struggling to find the best tools for your library makerspace? Join expert Laura Fleming as she discusses how best to support your space.
Amy Koester, The Show Me Librarian, shares 8 exciting STEAM activities to help you celebrate Space Week (Oct. 4–10) in your library!
Want to get more buy-in from staff and added exposure for your maker programs? Children’s Librarian and maker extraordinaire Holly Storck-Post fills you in on the benefits of holding a maker program for the entire library staff.
Looking for ways to use the littleBits Synth Kit? Director Mary Glendening shows you how to emulate one of the most popular littleBits programs held at CreateSpace@MFL, located in the Middletown Free Library. Learn the step-by-step directions for running the program at your own library and encouraging kids and teens to invent music with littleBits.
Big on makerspaces, but tight on budget? Library Director Mary Glendening offers tips on how to obtain grants and other funding to bring your ideas to life!
Mover and shaker Emily Ellis offers ideas for getting the whole family involved in STEAM activities through Tinker Day at the library, plus find out how your library can can leverage the popularity of Pokémon GO!
Quicksand, black holes and tsunamis — oh my! Combine attention-grabbing topics with engaging STEM activities and books, and draw in even the most reluctant readers.
The Maker Movement has hit the library! Watch this webinar and learn how to ensure patrons can pursue open-ended maker projects and enjoy playing to learn.
Library Journal Mover and Shaker Colleen Graves discusses design thinking and making and provides project ideas to get started tinkering with littleBits™ in your library and creating a community of makers!
Library makerspaces come in many forms and offer places to tinker, develop work skills or invent. What are your makerspace goals? Check out 4 essential considerations and the latest products.
See an elementary school library that offers a flexible space that boosts creativity, collaboration and learning.
Browse the latest library makerspace products that are a hit with both kids and adults.
Makerspaces in schools are becoming more popular. Hear from our expert guest blogger, Colleen Graves, on how to secure buy-in and funding.
Even the most reluctant readers are drawn in by the excitement of extreme sports! Discover STEM project ideas that will kick-start kids’ enthusiasm and test their engineering skills.
On the hunt for makerspace ideas? Bring on the arts! The library is the perfect place to give students valuable creation experiences and an artistic outlet.
What library makerspace tools and activities will be the most effective and the most engaging for your users? Get the crowd-sourced answers!
Incorporating visual art-making into your kids book club or school library program is a flexible and fun new way to connect to literature. Discover the Book to Art Club!
Have you been wanting to add a STEAM program to your library’s list of events but think it might be too expensive or too difficult to plan? Think again! In this blog post, Terry Ehle shares the inspiration you need to get started.
Makerspaces in schools build students’ interests and competencies in STEM. See how to increase innovation and collaboration between librarians and classroom teachers.
Want to engage kids in STEAM learning at your library? In this webinar, we’ll explore a range of programming ideas that work at any library, regardless of space or budget.
