MAKERSPACE AND INCLUSIVE IMPLEMENTATION:
Makerspace examined through equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and anti-racism (EDIDA) frameworks
Critical Investigation into
Inquiry and Design Thinking
in the Maker Environment
This assignment is a critical look at equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and antiracism (E.D.I.D.A.) in the making space, pedagogies associated with learning in makerspaces, the maker mindset, and the global community of makerspaces and how making is being used to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges.
​
For video sound, after the Land Acknowledgement, hover on the bottom right of the screen and click on the white musical note.
Video 8 min. 54 sec.
Reflection
Before working on this assignment and attending the inaugural MET Inclusive Makerspace Conference on May 24th and 25th I had been unaware of the history of inequities in current-day makerspaces and making/makification culture. Makerspaces are predominantly White, male dominated, affluent, tech-focused, and colonial arenas (Kye 2023). I dimly remember there were 'fix it' spaces in the 1980's where people brought their broken items to repair them rather than buy new, thus, reusing rather than contributing to pollution and consumerism through manufacturing. Even then, making was male-dominated. Sewing and other female-coded activities were not highlighted. I'd like to change that. If I get an opportunity to co-create a makerspace with a community, I will do my best to ensure that everyone feels welcome, valued, and included.
References
Bolli, M. (2020). Innovators in urban china: Makerspaces and marginality with impact. Urban Planning, 5(4), 68-77. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v5i4.3218
​
Bouwma-Gearhart, J., Choi, Y. H., Lenhart, C. A., Villanueva, I., Nadelson, L. S., & Soto, E. (2021). Undergraduate students becoming engineers: The affordances of university-based makerspaces. Sustainability, 13(4), 1670.
​
Cohen, J., Jones, W.M., Smith, S. & Calandra, B. (2017). Makification: Towards a framework for leveraging the maker movement in formal education [Conference Session].Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2016. Chesapeake, VA
​
Durán–López, E. C. (2022). Co-designing an Indigenous Making Learning Ecology Centered in Wellbeing. UC Berkeley. ProQuest ID: DurxE1nLxF3pez_berkeley_0028E_21667. Merritt ID: ark:/13030/m5fc2d2t. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/41c0c0cd
​
Edutopia. (2018. November 16). How learning happens: Learning problem solving and growth mindset in a makerspace [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQvcbLmNfok.
​
Halverson, E. & Peppler, K. (2018). The maker movement and learning. In F. Fischer, C. E. Hmelo-Silver, S. R. Goldman, & P. Reiman (Eds), International handbook of the learning sciences (1st ed., pp 285-294). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315617572.
​
Holbert, N., Berland, M., & Kafai, Y. B. (2020). Designing constructionist futures: The art, theory, and practice of learning designs. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/12091.001.0001
​
Ingram, C., Langhans, T., & Perrotta, C. (2022). Teaching design thinking as a tool to address complex public health challenges in public health students: A case study. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 270-270. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03334-6
​
Kye, H. (2023, May 24). People and pedagogies in inclusive maker education [Conference session]. MET Inclusive Makerspace Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
​
Liberatory Design. (n. d.). Liberatory design mindsets and modes to design for equity. https://www.liberatorydesign.com/
​
Make it Kustom. (2023, April 15). How to build a metal shaping power hammer from scrap metal/pullmax/nibbler [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwZAyI2p0p4
​
Make it Circular. (n.d.) Building a circular society one great idea at a time. Retrieved June 22, 2023, from https://makeitcircular.whatdesigncando.com/about/
​
Maker Media. (2013). Makerspace playbook school edition.
​
Makerspaces. (n.d.). Makerspace directory. https://makerspaces.make.co/
​
Melo, M. (2023, May 25). Space invaders: First time users feel like trespassers [Conference session]. MET Inclusive Makerspace Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
​
Mullick, N. (2012, April 9). Caine's Arcade [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U
​
Papert, S. (1991). Situating constructionism. In S. Papert & I. Harel (Eds.), Constructionism, (pp. 1–11). Ablex.
​
Participant discussions in Murai, Y., Ilten, R., & Gharib, M. (2023, May 24). Mine the land you are mining!: Creative design of critical learning experiences with Minecraft [Conference session]. MET Inclusive Makerspace Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
​
Pel, B., & Kemp, R. (2020). Between innovation and restoration; towards a critical-historicizing understanding of social innovation niches. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 32(10), 1182-1194. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2020.1750588
​
Vossoughi, S., Hooper, P. K., & Escude, M. (2016). Making through the lens of culture and power: Toward transformative visions for educational equity. Harvard Educational Review, 86(2), 206-232.
https://doi.org/10.17763/0017-8055.86.2.206
​
Yearwood, L., & Archer, R. ( 2023, May 25). Fostering a making culture [Conference session]. MET Inclusive Makerspace Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
​