What is a Makerspace?
Makerspaces serve as gathering points where communities of new and experienced makers connect to work on real and personally meaningful projects, informed by helpful mentors and expertise, using new technologies and traditional tools, from 3D Printing and Arduino to general DIY and beyond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apLixis_ycw
Makerspaces borrow somewhat from technical / vocational education, but they diverge by tearing down the walls between woodshop, computer science, home economics, etc. in pursuit of a more interdisciplinary goal. Makerspaces contrast with the outdated notion that shop class is for only one track of students. Making engages students teetering on the edge of
dropping out as effectively as it captures the interest of the 4.0 students in AP classes.
Makerspaces can be everything from temporary places set up in a lunchroom after school to a tent in the park to permanent buildings built to order.
In the Lehigh Valley we have Allentown's Hive4A hackerspace and Bethlehem's NCC FabLab. Although FabLabs and Hackerspaces traditionally foster an adult dominant atmosphere, these organizations serve as successful examples that the demand for Makerspaces exists. Easton has made its mark for the Arts, but what about technology and innovation?
This is a call to the executives, the directors, the educators, the community leaders, the School district, Lafayette College and the City of Easton to come together and make a contribution to the future of technology and innovation.
If you are interested in collaborating on the creation of a Makerspace in Easton, join the meetup group below.
http://www.meetup.com/Makerspace-Easton/
