The College of Engineering and Applied Science together with the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, and the UW Libraries developed a Library/Student Innovation Center (LIC/SIC), Makerspace, to spark student innovation, creativity, and design skills. In May 2012, Governor Mead, the State legislature, and the Wyoming Governor’s Energy, Engineering, STEM Integration Taskforce articulated a vision to propel the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) and the University of Wyoming to the realms of excellence in instruction, research, and service.” Part of this initiative included active learning “Makerspace” in the new Engineering Education and Research Building (EERB). Makerspace employs technology along with hands-on education to spark student innovation, creativity, design and entrepreneurship.
The UW Libraries has graciously provided 2500 square feet of space to develop a prototype Library Innovation Center during the Fall 2016 semester. Lessons learned and equipment purchased will form the basis of the Student Innovation Center planned for the EERB. Ground breaking for the EERB was October 7, 2016 with a scheduled completion of Spring 2019.
The goal of the LIC/SIC is to provide experiential learning space for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) students. The LIC/SIC provides a location for students to explore ideas, complete class projects, or pursue an entrepreneurial innovation. Also, the space is available to conduct classes and workshops. The space is coordinated and managed by an onsite specialist.
The Library/Student Innovation Center planning team consists of an interdisciplinary group of faculty members and students with a common interest – hands on, innovative learning. In this paper we provide detailed information in developing a Makerspace including equipment selection, staffing, funding, day-to-day operations and lessons learned. This paper serves as a useful guide for other institutions considering standing up a makerspace.
Steven F. Barrett, Ph.D., P.E., received the BS Electronic Engineering Technology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1979, the M.E.E.E. from the University of Idaho at Moscow in 1986, and the Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1993. He was formally an active duty faculty member at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado and is now the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education at the University of Wyoming and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is a member of IEEE (senior) and Tau Beta Pi (chief faculty advisor). His research interests include digital and analog image processing, computer-assisted laser surgery, and embedded controller systems. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Wyoming and Colorado. He co-wrote with Dr. Daniel Pack several textbooks on microcontrollers and embedded systems. In 2004, Barrett was named "Wyoming Professor of the Year" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and in 2008 was the recipient of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Professional Engineers in Higher Education, Engineering Education Excellence Award.
Tonia A. Dousay is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Idaho and a Google Certified Innovator. She has more than 15 years of instructional design and eLearning project management experience. Tonia’s teaching and research focus on design-based learning activities and the knowledge and skills acquired and reinforced through these opportunities. Makerspaces currently serve as the hub of her research, creating an engaging environment to play with robotics, 3D printing, 3D modeling, and mobileography for K20 learners. Where some areas of education focus on STEM-learning, Tonia emphasizes STEAM-learning, giving attention to art and how we empower learners to be interdisciplinary.
Tyler Kerr received a B.A. in Geology from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA in 2011, and an M.S. in Geology (Paleontology) from the University of Wyoming in 2017. His background in paleontology and interest in emergent technology has led him to pursue a career 3D scanning, rendering, and digitizing museum collections. In addition to his digitization work, he runs the University of Wyoming's Coe Student Innovation Center (CSIC), the university's newest educational STEAM-oriented campus makerspace for students, faculty, and staff.
Larry Schmidt is an associate librarian at the University of Wyoming and is the current Head of the Brinkerhoff Geology Library. He holds BS degree’s in Chemistry and Biology, MS Degree in environmental engineering from Montana State University and received an MLS from Emporia State University in 2002. His interests lie in providing undergraduate and graduate students with information, data and science literacy skills that will allow them to succeed in a global economy.
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