The Kickstart Guide to Making GREAT Makerspaces (Corwin Teaching Essentials)

First off, the audience for this book is teachers who already have makerspaces. If you are a teacher with an existing makerspace (and this could be as simple as having Legos with a modest amount of other supplies) in grades 1 through 12 and you want to improve your student's experience, then Laura Fleming's enthusiasm, ideas and experience will support your desire to improve your makerspace. The author cites a number of online tools to help guide your efforts and I always appreciate being directed to helpful websites. Her discussion of how to undertake assessment of student makerspace activities challenged my initial impulses in this area. She also discusses the development of badges for motivating students and recognizing skill development in the makerspace arena. This parallels the growth of nanodegrees and certificates in some areas of higher education.I deducted one star for two reasons. One, the author has an earlier book which might be helpful to read before reading this one. Secondly, while at odds with much of the thesis of the book, I think that other makerspaces, which lie outside the area to which this book is directed, such as carpentry, stonemasonry, metalworking and other such endeavors may benefit from more instructor oversight than that advocated by the author. With her focus, Ms. Fleming could justifiably argue that these efforts lie outside the scope of her book. But I agree with her argument that makerspaces should be implemented more often and forcefully in the education process. These more ancient skills, in my mind, need to be added to this list.I am not a teacher and do not have a makerspace. I was looking for a book that would give me some guidance on what a makerspace should be and how to set it up. The book is of some help, but I will have to look elsewhere to achieve my goal. So, if you're like me, you probably need to look for another resource.

I consider myself reasonably experienced in running public library makerspaces, so I wasn't expecting to get as much out of this book as I did. Although most of it targets school makerspaces, there's good information for anyone looking to build a space with a 'maker attitude'. I really appreciate how Fleming recognizes that while no two spaces should be alike (they should reflect the personality and goals of their respective communities), there are common themes and attributes that really make great spaces stand out. I enjoyed the book and found new inspiration in it myself.

Excellent book for any educator interested in enriching their student's learning experience. This is Ms. Fleming's second book and she is clearly the go-to expert for information on creating a successful makerspace! The Kickstart Guide to Making GREAT Makerspaces is an easy to follow, interactive guide, filled with fun and interesting ideas for all sizes and types of makerspaces! Well done Ms. Fleming. We look forward to your next book!

THIS is the book that will help you to transform theory into reality! With photos and best practices from maker educators, Laura is your guide through the world of making. With spaces for brainstorming and reflection, this workbook stands above many other guidebooks. Suggestions are helpful for beginners and experts alike.

I’ve made tons of notes and I’m excited for what it’s helped me discover

Truly a masterpiece! Laura Fleming weaves a book that serves as a Sherpa in the journey to #makingGREATmakerspaces. Laura’s book will inspire and push your thinking to greater heights.

Amazing book! I highly recommend everyone to purchase! Laura Fleming is quite the Author! Very educational. This is her second book on Amazon. They just get better and better!! Congratulations Laura!

Great book, I highly recommend it for anyone getting started with the Makerspace concept.