How I Gamified My MakerSpace

I became a makerspace teacher in the 2017-18 school at the request of my principal.  As an elementary teacher masquerading as a technology teacher, I had no clue what I was doing. Of course, that didn't stop me from tackling a crazy cool assignment.  I had researched a few new maker gadgets and purchased what I could. I also brought in some of my old coding standbys I've used the past.  But, to be honest, I had no idea how to run a makerspace.

That year was a blur.  The room needed to be transformed from computer lab to makerspace.  I had to learn the new devices and find ways to talk my colleagues into bringing their kids to me.  Since my class isn't in the specials rotation, I had to rely on teacher buy-in and that was hard.  When I did get a class in my room, the focus was mainly on exploration and trying to avoid tears and hurt feelings.

At the very end of the school year, my district went through a major project looking at success criteria and mastery learning for all standards in all content area.  That's when an epiphany hit me... a badge system!

I spent the summer working on breaking down all my gadgetry and apps into smaller bite-sized pieces. Each of those levels were designed to bring students from novice to expert in the field and eventually using multiple devices together. What started as a nugget of an idea turned into a website that has turned my makerspace into a game for the students and an organized curriculum for me.

Click Picture for Web Site

As you navigate the site, you can see numerous options for student choice and growth in various disciplines.  In general, the badges start out very teacher directed but wind up with ways for students to explore ways they want to use the technology. I knew that digital badges would win their hearts and give them a chance to display what they know and can do.  

The next step was teacher buy-in.  Getting students excited means nothing if I can't get them in my room.  That's why I am hosting a Maker Monday once a month after school.  Any employee in the school is given the opportunity to come in for an hour, learn the technology, and earn badges for themselves.  My first Maker Monday had 10 teachers, earning 5 badges, in 4 disciplines.  I call that a win!

Students are encouraged to tackle any device or app that interests them.  I try not to direct them to any one thing unless it's a request by the teacher. This gives students the opportunity for student choice.  It also means I frequently have students working in four or more disciplines. 

 

While I am anticipating a lot of traffic this year, my most consistent class has been third grade.  They are sending me 12 kids for about three weeks and rotating groups throughout the year.  I am amazed at the results already.  One girl who I remember as painfully shy as a second grader is my rock star.  She is knocking out badges left and right.  I love watching as another girl -- wonderfully sweet and bright -- struggles and works her way through something that -- finally! -- doesn't come easily for her.  We've had talks about this being a MAKERspace, and I expect them to MAKE.  MAKING is where the learning is.  It's OK to PLAY a bit, but this isn't a PLAYERspace because I want them to create. 

Soon, it will be time for this group to rotate out, but I'm having two overlap days.  My outgoing class will buddy up with the incoming class to show them the ropes.  I am so excited!

Moving forward...

• My next job is to align these badges to standards. While this program helps tap into another intelligence and helps teach the whole child, the teachers need to see how this work helps them teach students in their curriculum
• I'm constantly working on adding more devices to the list.  At this typing, I'm working on badges for Kodable, a coding game for non-readers. 
• I'd like to make a "The Making of..." post to show how I made the badges and the site. 

I'd love to hear how you have organized your makerspace and how you think I could improve our badge program.