Poster 12 – Learning and Teaching Conference 2023

Title: Makerspace: A tool for in-curriculum interdisciplinary experiential learning

Author: Amer Syed

Theme: Research-Informed Teaching

Makerspaces are creative spaces that offer resources for users to design and build prototypes. Facilities include but not limited to benches, saws, cutters, drilling machines, 3D printers etc. Makerspaces are increasingly transcending traditional boundaries of disciplines in taught curriculum as evidenced by data gathered from leading academic makerspaces such as Georgia Tech’s Innovation Studio, MIT MakerWorkshop and Sheffield’s iForge. Evidence gathered by MIT MakerWorkshop through alumni survey revealed that working in MakerWorkshop significantly enhanced the degree of preparedness for their career by enhancing not only the practical knowledge but also their leadership and team working skills (Haji and Filippi, 2018).
The increase in the number of non-STEM degree students registering to use Engineering Makerspace at KB is a fine example of UoE students’ interest in interdisciplinary extra-curricular work in a makerspace environment. It has been argued for sometime that experiential learning is one of the most effective ways that enable creativity and innovation in not only teaching and learning environment but beyond, however its uptake in a formal university curriculum had been slow. Most of the existing programmes offer some form of experiential learning through individual or group projects or part of course as well as a select group of students gaining experiential learning through extra curricular activities, such as the 13 student innovation groups at the School of Engineering (SoE). These 13 groups work on competition focused, developmental and outreach based projects. Currently a few of the students undertake part of their innovation activities as BEng/MEng projects thereby gaining credits and grades for their work. Building upon this, this poster illustrates the potential of Makerspace in delivering in-curriculum interdisciplinary inclusive experiential learning and entrepreneurship.

Aug 10, 2022

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