Updating the Makerspace Playbook

A collaborative guidebook and resource for establishing and running a makerspace

Around the world, makerspaces are hubs for innovation, collaboration, and exploration. Over ten years ago, the concept was rather new in education and there was a need to explain what a makerspace is and provide basic information on how to build one, particularly in schools. So, with grant-funding from DARPA, we (at the time, Maker Media) created the Makerspace Playbook. (Thanks to the original team that wrote it.)

At the time it was published, the playbook reflected some of the best practices followed by pioneering educators, community leaders, and makers in establishing and running their own makerspaces.

Now, 10 years later, MakerEd is organizing an effort to update the Makerspace Playbook so that it reflects the best practices of the larger community of makerspace organizers and managers. We aim to enrich the playbook with new insight, and learn from experiences of many others in the maker community.

First, we want to turn the original playbook into a living document that can be changed and improved through collaboration. Sharing is what propels the maker movement forward, and invite you to share your expertise and insights to help shape the future of school makerspaces. 

We have created an open-source version of the playbook on Github. You can edit it and share changes back with us, or you can customize it for your own makerspace. We are also interested in providing links to information available elsewhere that could be useful to those creating and managing a school makerspace. Whether you're an educator, a community organizer, or a passionate maker, your contributions can make a significant impact on the playbook's relevance and inclusivity.

There are a few ways to contribute: (1) You can submit issues to the Github Repo or create a Discussion (no-coding required!), (2) check out the 2013 version of the Playbook in Google Docs and add a comment, or (3) reach out to us directly at info@makered.org. We will review changes and incorporate them into a new version of the Makerspace Playbook. If using GitHub seems daunting, check out the quick guide to Github for makers that Donaldo wrote.

In future issues of this newsletter, we’ll tackle individual sections of the playbook and we hope spur discussion about what might be changed.

Visit the MakerEd Resource Library to find more helpful guides and resources. Together, let's ignite the spirit of making, inspire lifelong learning, and create a global network of thriving makerspaces in schools and communities.

Visit MakerEd on Github.