Making Spaces – a research event exploring equity for children and young people in makerspaces

As children and young people, our imaginations act as powerful tools for exploration. That imaginative power, combined with traditional and digital tools in makerspaces, can enable youth to create and learn in new ways and across traditional boundaries. But to what extent can makerspaces promote equity and social justice for children and young people?

On 24 July 2017, colleagues from the education, museums, charitable, private, and HE sectors gathered at the Institute of Making for a one-day research workshop to explore how children and young people experience makespaces and how we, as various stakeholders, might enhance equitable practices in makespaces.

Led by Professor Louise Archer from UCL’s Institute of Education, and made possible by the IOE Seed Funding Scheme 2016/17, four international panellists discussed best practices, challenges, and future development for makerspaces that engage with our youth. Participants also shared from their own experiences across different sectors in two breakout sessions, and Dr Edna Tan, from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, led an LED light greeting card making activity that exemplified equity making principles.  The Institute of Making research team also facilitated wax finger candle and polymorph making at the start of the day – a fantastic way to warm up our adult imaginations for the day!

Photo credits: Emma O'Sullivan