In "makerspaces," kids build, tinker and create. They can mold structures with Legos. They can further their coding skills. They can craft with cardboard structures and upload that to a student sharing site.
The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district has some makerspaces in media centers across its district, and more formal ones will pop up in schools in the 2016-2017 school year, funded by referendum and possibly grant money, according to a district release.
"It's very much in the same vein as engineering and design work," said Nancy Meyer, district elementary media coordinator, in the release. "We want students to be asking themselves how they can make their project better, solving problems and working together."
Makerspaces and fabrication labs are popping up across the metro area and the nation. Schools including the Wayzata school district's Greenwood Elementary and Birchview Elementary have used makerspaces this school year. Apple Valley High School and Mahtomedi High School have fabrication labs, where students get hands-on experience creating.
The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district mentioned in the release that with the spaces, students are able to "build life and career skills including planning, critical thinking and communication."
