Creating a Makerspace to Support a 1:1 Technology Initiative
Abstract: The academic technology industry is expanding just as fast as the consumer technology industry, and P-12 administrators are expecting their first-year teachers to be ready on day one not only with pedagogical knowledge, but with the skills to incorporate and actively teach with technology. With the installation of 1:1 technology initiatives throughout many institutions of higher education, we have seen a response to this request from P-12 administrations; however, some 1:1 technology initiatives have seen success and some failure while many have gone through revisions just to stay relevant. It is one thing for a 1:1 technology initiative to provide teacher candidates a device like an iPadĀ® to integrate into their teaching, but having that device is only a small piece of developing a successful 1:1 technology initiative. Having a space dedicated to professional development for both students and faculty that also provides access to additional emerging technology for candidates to proactively explore and tinker with in addition to their 1:1 device is important to consider for a 1:1 technology initiative to stay on the cutting edge. This paper presents an overview of a Makerspace housed in one of the most state-of-the-art learning laboratories in Missouri, best practices for developing a Makerspace to support a 1:1 technology initiative and useful links to the technologies and resources referenced.