The I&RC MakerSpace

The “Maker-Literate” student can:

1. Identify and articulate a need to create.

• 1a. Recognize unmet needs and inaccessible situations that might be solved by making
• 1b. Tinker and hack to learn how things are made and how they work 
• 1c. Isolate a specific, manageable issue to focus on 
• 1d. Evaluate the costs and benefits of making and/or upcycling as an alternative to buying or hiring 

2. Analyze and explore ideas, questions, problems, and potential solutions.

• 2a. Define an idea, question, and/or problem
• 2b. Break an idea, question, and/or problem into its constituent parts for closer analysis 
• 2c. Investigate how others have approached similar situations 
• 2d. Question assumptions 
• 2e. Brainstorm a variety of solutions and pursue the most promising 

3. Create effectively and safely.

• 3a. Seek training, information, and necessary certifications when planning to work with dangerous equipment and materials
• 3b. Wear personal protective gear when appropriate 
• 3c. Reinforce safety precautions with others 
• 3d. Accustom self with location-specific emergency procedures, egress and disaster plans 
• 3e. Transfer safety principles covered in training to real-world contexts 

4. Assess the availability and appropriateness of tools and materials.

• 4a. Research various equipment and materials to determine limitations and suitability for specific applications
• 4b. Consider environmental sustainability/impact when making, including upcycling and recycling materials 
• 4c. Determine the most ideal tools, materials, and method(s) of creation (physical, digital, and rhetorical) for the project 
• 4d. Secure access to the necessary tools, materials, and space/facilities 
• 4e. Investigate alternatives when a desired tool or material is not available or is too resource intensive 
• 4f. Fabricate necessary tools, reimagine material choices, develop alternate workflows, and/or revise project scope when tools or materials are not feasible

5.Prototype using iterative design principles.

• 5a. Specify measurable criteria for a successful prototype vs desired finished product 
• 5b. Divide design into individual components to facilitate testing 
• 5c. Take intelligent risks, use trial and error, and learn from failures 
• 5d. Test measurable criteria to determine whether creation meets needs
• 5e. Gather prototype feedback and input from stakeholders and mentors 
• 5f. Revise and modify prototype design over multiple iterations

6. Develop a project management plan.

• 6a. Specify actionable and measurable project goals and requirements 
• 6b. Utilize time management and project management tools 
• 6c. Outline project milestones, including sequential action items and anticipating time for multiple prototype iterations 
• 6d. Work effectively within project constraints, be they financial, material, spatial, and/or temporal

7. Engage in effective teamwork.

• 7a. Gauge the costs & benefits of “Doing-it-Yourself” (DIY) or “Doing-it-Together” (DIT) 
• 7b. Recognize opportunities to collaborate with others who provide diverse experiences and perspectives 
• 7c. Recruit team members with diverse skills appropriate for specific project requirements 
• 7d. Join a team where one’s skills are sought and valued 
• 7e. Listen and communicate attentively to learn from and with others 
• 7f. Follow through on commitments and contribute to culture of accountability

8. Employ effective knowledge management practices.

• 8a. Restate technical and maker jargon for the layperson 
• 8b. Document steps clearly with sufficient detail for others to follow and replicate workflows 
• 8c. Use version control to manage project outputs and documentation 
• 8d. Preserve project outputs and documentation for long-term access

9. Apply knowledge gained into other situations.

• 9a. Teach skills and share insights with other makers 
• 9b. Recognize and cultivate transferrable skills 
• 9c. Transfer knowledge, skills, and methods of inquiry across disciplines and activities 
• 9d. Familiarize self with skillsets of others 
• 9e. Connect those seeking to learn something with those who have relevant experience

10. Understand ethical and intellectual property issues surrounding making.

• 10a. scrutinize the ethical implications of making
• 10b. demonstrate an understanding of intellectual property rights and protections 
• 10c. weigh the costs & benefits of seeking intellectual property protections v. making project outputs open and freely available to others 
• 10d. examine the potential viability of both proprietary and open source systems to adopt/adapt 
• 10e. respect the intellectual property rights of other makers