Making it Work: Makerspaces, Maker Community and High School Partnerships

Abstract

This study examines the benefits and challenges of creating partnerships between schools and their local maker community. Makerspaces are dedicated facilities for individuals to create products with specialised tools that vary greatly in different spaces. This paper focuses on makerspaces with technologies that facilitate fabrication. Based on interviews, we describe the benefits and challenges of makerspace-high school partnerships and the potential partnership between makerspaces and technical schools. In high schools, makerspaces provide students with equipment to discover problems, explore ideas and gain self-confidence. In the community, makerspaces provide patrons with opportunities to develop making skills, collaborate, generate new economic activity, and build community. Despite having similar objectives, the needs of high school makerspaces and public makerspaces are vastly different. Hence, school-makerspace partnership attempts in Victoria, Australia have often been difficult to implement and more importantly, sustain.