A Makerspace in Sangudo

By Rechell McDonald
The Sangudo Central School (SCS) has developed a makerspace for students that has not only been a huge hit for students, but also for staff and families.
A makerspace is a designated place where people can go to tinker, test ideas, build, or create across a variety of disciplines and with a multitude of mediums. From woodworking and electrical tools, to cook tops, 3D printers, or crafting stations, makerspaces have been designed to encourage independent thought in a communal setting where your peers can help you work out a problem, or share beneficial thoughts and ideas regarding their own work.
At SCS this space has certainly broadened the horizons of its young students. Grade 7, 8, and 9 students were given the task of identifying a personal area of interest for themselves and then building/designing a project around that. Some of the projects students chose to tackle were jewelry design, creating phone cases with the 3D printer, creating musical instruments, and even designing logos and fastening them to clothing sewn by the students.
This year’s makerspace program was such a resounding success that students and parents are still discussing it. The school hopes to expand the program next year by upgrading the 3D printer to include a scanner and 3D pens, as well as reorganizing the wing of the school where the makerspace is located to allow all the specialty rooms to be in close proximity to one another. The school is also reaching out to the community to find talented members who would be willing to contribute to the makerspace by lending their time, knowledge, and skills to the students.