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1. Examining the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on library makerspaces and LIS makerspace curricula

   Melo, Marijel Maggie; March, Laura; Hirsh, Kimberly (September 2021, ALISE 2021 Conference Proceedings)

   The paper will outline two synergistic analyses that engage with the themes of resilient futures and education: a case study on the pandemic’s impact on LIS makerspace course curricula that was quickly converted from face-to-face to remote learning, and a broader analysis that explores how makerspace information professionals in higher education have adapted their services in response to safety protocols and to the holistic needs of their user communities. This paper contributes both to the conversation of LIS curricula as it pertains to teaching and training upcoming information professionals for careers in makerspaces, while also contextualizing these adaptations within the larger changes that were implemented by academic library makerspaces in North Carolina. 

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2. Vibe Check: A 360-degree Enumeration of the Common Features of a University Makerspace

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-023-00919-w  

   Melo, Marijel; March, Laura; Hirsh, Kimberly; Arnsberg, Emily (March 2024, TechTrends)

   To better grasp the issue of underrepresentation in makerspaces, it's crucial to closely examine the environment where these problems arise. A spatial enumeration of a makerspace, which is a complete listing of items within a collection or environment, extends such an evaluation. By responding to this overarching research question, “why do students from underrepresented communities turn away at the threshold of a makerspace,” this article provides findings from the frost phase of a five-year, qualitative research program. Specifically, this paper presents the sensory features (sight, sound, smell) that comprise a university makerspace. The process and findings from enumerating a makerspace offer vital insights into how STEM-focused environments convey inclusivity. Seventeen makerspace leaders from a university network were asked to discern what a typical makerspace looks, sounds, and smells like. The findings from this study provide information professionals with entry points to analyze their makerspace from a DEI standpoint. 

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3. Supporting Teachers’ Ability to Leverage Makerspaces in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics

   Corum, K.; Nichols, L.; Spitzer, S.; Begen, K. (April 2020, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference Proceedings)

   Makerspaces are increasingly present in K-12 schools and these spaces have the potential to be transformative for mathematics education. However, this rich promise of makerspaces to be transformative for education assumes that teachers will be able to successfully integrate these spaces into their instruction. Teachers who lack the specialized knowledge for such integration, which we refer to as MakerPACK, are unlikely to use makerspaces to their full potential. This mixed-methods research project investigates teacher learning of makerspace technologies through the lens of mathematics curriculum and tasks within the context of a graduate course. Emerging results suggest that while exposing practicing teachers to these makerspace technologies through guided explorations had an overall positive impact on teachers’ perceptions of the role of technology in mathematics teaching, their attitudes and beliefs about technology integration were often mediated by their beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning. 

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4. Making space for the women: Exploring female engineering student narratives of engagement in makerspaces

   Lam, C.; Cruz, S.; Kellam, N.; Coley, B. (January 2019, 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition)

   Makerspaces have the potential to revolutionize engineering education by providing a platform for students to nurture their tacit knowledge. This unique space allows for students to work with advanced prototyping equipment, develop specialized skills and create community. Although makerspaces could become an important dimension of engineering education, it is unclear whether these spaces are inclusive for all engineering students, especially those from underrepresented groups. Specifically, this study aims to understand the experiences of diverse female engineering students in makerspaces. For this study, we analyzed interview transcripts of ten women from multiple U.S. universities housing engineering academic makerspaces—those anchored to and supported by the engineering department/school specifically—and found common themes across their stories. These themes include the perception of gender bias, as well as an intimidating, hostile, and non-inclusive environment. Although the results of this study demonstrate gender bias and marginalization occur in makerspaces, female engineering students still find value in the makerspace through access to resources, opportunities to learn, increased confidence, and female makerspace staff. 

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5. Do I Fit In? Examining Student Perceptions of Belonging and Comfort in University Makerspaces

   Kaat, Claire; Blair, Samuel; Linsey, Julie; Layton, Astrid (October 2023, 7th International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces (ISAM))

   The growing popularity of progressive education pedagogies combined with the continued rise of the maker movement has propelled knowledge and interest in makerspaces across education. As a result, makerspaces have become a common sight on college campuses around the world. These spaces offer students a unique opportunity to apply the hard and soft skills learned in the classroom to projects with real consequences. Students learn to take ownership of their work and experiment and iterate until they are proud of their results. Through this process they grow in design self-efficacy, innovation, and collaboration skills. Makerspaces are a powerful tool in the hands of university professors, but not all students benefit from them equally. Many students still face real or perceived barriers to entry caused in part by a lack of comfort and confidence in the space. This study seeks to examine students’ sense of belonging at a university makerspace and determine how gender, major, study locations, and classes affect this sense. Online surveys were distributed to students who used the makerspace in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. Students answered a series of Likert style questions about how they feel in the space and statistical tests were used to determine correlation and significance of the results. It was found that sense of belonging in the space overall was high, but that females, non-mechanical engineering majors, and students who did not study in the space reported statistically lower sense of comfort. Suggestions are given to makerspace administrators of how to address and avoid these gaps in belonging and make the space more inclusive and welcoming to all students. 

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