Date of Award
8-2024
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Educational Administration and Leadership, K-12: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Dr. John Eller
Second Advisor
Dr. Jodi Kuznia
Third Advisor
Dr. Frances Kayona
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Kurt Helgeson
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Categorizing Makerspaces
Abstract
This exploratory study analyzed the similarities and differences of how select K-12 school administrators describe and characterize their own existing makerspace facilities to begin to develop a model of characterizing makerspaces for the purpose of study, comparison and evaluation that is not currently being employed. Current efforts emerging from the literature to categorize makerspaces based on descriptions of facilities, equipment, location, and management styles have been shown to be an ineffective way to compare and contrast individual makerspace implementations for the purpose of studying the educational outcomes they produce or help to support within a school setting. The United States Department of Education’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasizes the use of evidence-based activities, strategies and interventions in the design of education programs from prekindergarten through adult education” (U.S. Department of Education, 2023, p.1), and highlights that the main indicator of quality is clear evidence of impact based on rigorous research. There is an abundance of research regarding the educational impact makerspaces can have for students but is presented from a global perspective. The district and school level needs statements made by administrators are focused internally on specific desired outcomes for their individual schools. The lack of an effective model of categorization for makerspace implementations makes it difficult for school administrators to identify and review existing implementations that match their educational goals and work best in their schools before investing in their own makerspaces and served as the foundation for this exploratory study.
Recommended Citation
Schroll, Mark, "Categorizing Makerspaces: Identifying Best Fit Models for School Administrators" (2024). Culminating Projects in Education Administration and Leadership. 123.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/edad_etds/123
Comments/Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the members of my committee for their wonderful energy and guidance.
This work is dedicated to my mother Evelyn who’s love for learning has always been an inspiration to me and to my wife LuAnn and our daughters Katelyn and Jennifer for their endless encouragement and support.