Sycamore transforms media centers of 21st Century

Kelly McBride

Cincinnati Enquirer

The Greene Tech Team, comprised of sixth graders, helps other students problem solve technical issues. The group presented at the Learn21 Conference at Ohio State University.

Creativity, innovation and exploration have a special place in the Sycamore Community School District. It’s called Makerspace, at E.H. Greene Intermediate School.

Established at the end of the last school year, Makerspace is open in the school’s Media Center.

“Our media centers and libraries are being transformed to help students achieve outcomes that will best prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century,” instructional technology facilitator Lorinda Ottaway said of the new space. “Not only are they providing the literacy skills, they are providing presentation spaces, creation spaces, research and development spaces, and even design studios."

Students can use a Hummingbird Robotics Kit to create and build robots built from electronic components and craft materials.

The media center, which has about 18,000 books and 2,000 e-books and audio books, has added 3D printers, virtual reality machines, a tool to cut vinyl posters, CAD software, a button maker, and a sewing machine through Makerspace.

It’s part of Sycamore’s five-year STEAM program, which incorporates the academic subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts and math, and was equipped through donations from the district’s Parent Teacher Organization.

Students will have access to Makerspace about once a week through an elective led by media specialist Becky Sloan. It’s also available after school, and for club activities.

Students explore the inside of the human body thanks to the virtual reality machines in the Makerspace.

Makerspace is a place for innovation and creativity, but it also incorporates concepts of engineering and allows academic exploration.

“It provides student choice and voice and encourages the development of 21st-century skills that are needed in our information-based economy,” Ottaway said. “It encourages problem-solving and a production vs. consumer-based mindset.”

While Makerspace is in the Media Center, it includes a mobile virtual reality machine.

“Our science teachers utilized its programs to identify cells, explore the skeletal system, walk on Mars, and explore the human body,” Ottawaysaid. “Many of those classes purchased (virtual reality) machines to use in their classrooms this coming year. Several teachers have created small versions of a Makerspace in their rooms as a result of student interest in our common Makerspace. This extension into individual classrooms should extend learning, deepen understanding of concepts, and encourage student-directed learning.”

E.H. Greene's Makerspace has three 3D printers for students to use.

While Makerspace allows students to explore, it also introduces them to the inevitable failures of the creative process, and has challenged teachers to step aside as students figure it out.

“That is hard for the students, too,” Ottaway said. “They are used to the teacher providing them with step-by-step instructions. Now they are being asked to go through the design process to solve problems.

“If they fail, they are encouraged to redesign and try again. Becoming comfortable with the process is just as important as the final project. This builds perseverance and resilience, but can be frustrating sometimes.”

The program also provides an opportunity for students to take positions of leaderships, as they develop tutorials for the equipment. A group of sixth-grade students, called the Greene Tech team, help with technology and have designed using the 3D printer, created videos and Garage Band mixes, and used blocks for prototyping, among other tasks.

“These creations have encouraged the development of 21st-century skills,” Ottaway said, “such as collaboration, communication, creation, critical thinking, perseverance and flexibility.”