Makers on the move: a mobile makerspace at a comprehensive public high school

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a mobile makerspace program in a public school setting. Insights, challenges, successes, projects as well as recommendations will be shared.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a mobile makerspace program in a public high school in Virginia. It discusses the growth of mobile making, the advantages and disadvantages of mobility, and how the program was implemented.

Findings

Mobile makerspaces are a fast-growing manifestation of maker culture. It is possible to have a makerspace in a public school and take the maker culture to other schools in the area. Having a steady supply of students or library interns that are willing to travel to other schools is critical.

Originality/value

Makerspaces in libraries is still a relatively new phenomenon. While the research is coming on stationary makerspaces, mobile making is a new horizon for the maker movement. This paper seeks to provide a description of one such program.

Citation

Craddock, I.L. (2015), "Makers on the move: a mobile makerspace at a comprehensive public high school", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 497-504. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-05-2015-0056