ERIC Number: EJ1414191
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-8756-3894
EISSN: EISSN-1559-7075
Vibe Check: A 360-Degree Enumeration of the Common Features of a University Makerspace
TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, v68 n2 p211-222 2024
To better grasp the issue of underrepresentation in makerspaces, it's crucial to closely examine the environment where these problems arise. A spatial enumeration of a makerspace, which is a complete listing of items within a collection or environment, extends such an evaluation. By responding to this overarching research question, "why do students from underrepresented communities turn away at the threshold of a makerspace," this article provides findings from the first phase of a five-year, qualitative research program. Specifically, this paper presents the sensory features (sight, sound, smell) that comprise a university makerspace. The process and findings from enumerating a makerspace offer vital insights into how STEM-focused environments convey inclusivity. Seventeen makerspace leaders from a university network were asked to discern what a typical makerspace looks, sounds, and smells like. The findings from this study provide information professionals with entry points to analyze their makerspace from a DEI standpoint.
Descriptors: Technology, Shared Resources and Services, Minority Group Students, Perception, Sensory Experience, School Space, Inclusion, STEM Education, Higher Education, Diversity, Equal Education, Technology Uses in Education
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A