Education should not only include academics but also allow students to gain practical skills that will improve their lives overall. School of the Earth will have a dedicated Makerspace where students, faculty, and staff can collaborate to share resources and networks, work on projects and gain practical skills. Makerspace will work as a collaborative space, with a combination of labs, pods, and workshop and presentation rooms. It will create an environment conducive to creative endeavors, hands-on learning experiences, and connections with the outside world through learning. This space will provide a perfect opportunity to interact with fellow innovators and will foster a collaborative community built on team effort and multidisciplinary approaches. The key theme behind all the projects and innovations will be environmental and social sustainability. This theme will also be reflected in the overall design of the Makerspace.
- Lobby: Lobby has an open floor with small innovative elements like the green wall and individual pods along a tree.
- Green wall: The plants on the wall will spell out “Makerspace”. This is a simple element, but will reinforce the core theme of sustainability behind the space.
- Individual Pods: These individual pods are customizable for working and sleeping. They have lighting and music options in addition to security settings that ensure one’s privacy. They serve two purposes: First, they allow students who need to recharge to take a short nap between classes. Second, they transform into a space where people can work on and research their projects.
- Gathering Lab: Students meet, discuss ideas and sketch concepts and form teams. The lab is structured to be open with moveable furniture to create gathering spaces. The lab will also have virtual boards where students can discuss ideas, draw concepts, etc.
- Idea Lab: Students develop multiple ideas and move to innovation lab to form prototypes. The lab is structured so the student teams have collaborative spaces to work and research.
- Innovation Lab: This lab will work as a space where ideas will take shape. This lab will allow students to make and test prototypes with high tech machines and materials readily available. Advisors will also be available for students to learn how to use certain machines and provide any other help that they might need.
- Manufacturing Lab: This lab will have professionals who will help students make final products out of their prototypes.
- Business Lab: This space provides students with an opportunity to transform their product into a real idea. The business lab will provide students with relevant information and knowledge along with mentors to make a formal business plan.
School of the Earth will broaden the definition of a makerspace and a similar flow model will be implemented for students who might want to collaborate across disciplines like art, music etc.
Another important element of Makerspace will be one-credit workshops that aim at enabling students to learn valuable life skills. A few examples are:
- Handling Money
- Taxes
- Insurance
- Government and law
- Critical Thinking
- Relationships
- Cooking
- Home Repairs
- Surviving without some types of technology
- Job recruitment
Thus, the goals of the Makerspace, while keeping in mind the broader theme of environmental and social sustainability, are:
- Creativity and Innovation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Research Fluency
- Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Ethics
- Technology adaption