According to a report from the White House, only 20% of all U.S. high school graduates are prepared for a STEM-related major in college. In fact, the report also states that over a span of 15 -years, U.S. colleges produced only 10% of the world’s engineering and science graduates.  If these trends continue, we will have to rely on foreign nationals to fill America’s STEM gap.

We can change this. We must make STEM a priority, and one way to do this is to create makerspaces.

What is a makerspace?

A makerspace is a room or an area in the school that contains tools and materials that allow students to gather, create, invent, tinker, explore and discover. 

A makerspace is where students can design, build and create all sorts of things, using 21st Century Skills such as the 4 C’s. These are the same key skills for STEM.  

Makerspaces can give early exposure to STEM, according to the Department of Education, “research shows that early exposure to STEM has positive impacts across the entire spectrum of learning.”

Makerspaces can come in a variety of formats, such as hackerspaces, tech shops, and creative labs, just to name a few. They can be an area in the corner of the library, or take over an entire wing of a school building! Through makerspaces, we can foster a deeper fascination among students for science, technology, and math, giving them more opportunities in the future.

How to Set Up and Use a Makerspace

1.    Make the space inviting. Put up inspirational quotes or photos of inventions.

2.    Safety is imperative: Make sure to go over the “ground rules” before students start anything. For example, tape off lines on the floor to where students can or should not be or laminate rules or processes for each table/section.

3.    Organize where items should be stored, and label them so that everyone that uses the makerspace can help keep it organized.

4.    Choose emerging technologies that will excite students. Check out the classroom-ready equipment we’ve picked to correspond with our curriculum.

5.    Create a space for project storage. Sometimes one class period is not enough to complete a project. Try not to rush innovation, if you can help it. Allow students to store their projects somewhere that they can return to and complete when they feel they have done their best.

6.    Create a “brainstorming” space. Sometimes you have to walk away from projects to get a different or new perspective. If room allows, set aside a space where students can brainstorm with a whiteboard, post-it notes, or simply extra pencils and scratch paper.

STEM Emerging Technologies

Today, makerspaces are immersed with emerging technologies supported by parents, teachers, organizations, and community members. This educational engagement forms a nexus between traditional education systems and the larger interests of the community. Looking for suggestions? Below are the emerging technologies we use in the classroom and in makerspaces:

For early learners: grades K-2:
Colby, the Code & Go® Robot Mouse: By exploring the mechanisms of robots in makerspaces, primary school students can easily grasp how robots function.
Hand-operated Drones: Students get a head start on learning how things fly as well as a basic understanding of the forces of flight, such as lift and thrust.

For beginner learners: grades 3-5:
mBot: Students learn how to block code and program their own mBot robots.
Tello Drone: Students learn how to program drone flight through coding in the TelloEDU application.
MiniDelta 3D Printer: Students learn how to build and modify designs through Tinkercad and use Thingiverse to download items for print.

For intermediate learners: grades 6-8:
mBot: Students explore how robots can and have replaced human jobs and the application of programming robots to accomplish certain tasks.
Tello Drone: Through a series of activities that support inquiry and hands-on learning, students develop an understanding of how drones function and the real-world purposes for which they are used.
MiniDelta 3D Printer: Students explore the applications, technical requirements, and limitations of 3D printing.

For advanced learners: grades 9-12:
Tello Drone: Students will integrate algebraic thinking, programmatic knowledge, and use programming skills to navigate the Tello Drone using the Droneblocks app.
MiniDelta 3D Printer: Students analyze the functions of a 3D printer and engage the Engineering Design process to design and produce physical objects to solve real-world problems.

Standards-aligned STEM and STEAM Education

NextWave STEM offers award-winning curriculum aligned with standards that include the NGSS Grade Band Engineering Technology Standards, Common Core Math and ELA. These standards are closely tied to STEM education and emerging technologies to provide as much educational value for students as possible.

By integrating all of these emerging technologies throughout your institutions’ curriculum and makerspaces, every educational institution can enable future-focused learning. Numerous schools are embracing these possibilities to cultivate on-demand skills the next generation will need for future employment opportunities.

“We Teach” Model One Solution to Teacher Shortage

NextWave STEM is an agency that has recognized a shortage of educational makerspaces and specialized STEM and technology instructors in schools. Through our “We Teach” model, NWS-certified STEM instructors work with your students remote or in-person in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, drone coding, machine learning and so much more.

You could be one of the schools that help nurture an innovator who could change the world as we know it for future generations. We have already partnered with 150+ organizations and schools. Through them, our STEM instructors have impacted over 30,000 students.

Ready to learn more? Drop us an email at Hello@NextWaveSTEM.com or call 312-600-8239. You can also browse through our website to learn more about the latest teaching topics and how our services can benefit your students.