When schools invest in a makerspace, the tools are only part of the journey. To fully unlock the potential of hands-on learning, educators need support that goes beyond plugging in equipment. That’s where 1st Maker Space’s training and professional development offerings come in, each designed to meet different needs at different stages of your makerspace journey.
Equipment Training: Practical, Tool-Focused Support
Equipment training from 1st Maker Space is designed to help educators feel confident and capable using the individual tools in their makerspace, whether it’s 3D printers, laser cutters, Shaper Origin, or other technology.
This training can happen in person or virtually and focuses on the essentials:
- How each piece of equipment works
- Operating procedures so users can start creating safely
- Hands-on demos that walk-through setup and operation
This type of training is ideal for teachers, makerspace managers, IT departments, or staff who need to understand the tools themselves, what they do, how to run them, and how to keep them in good working order. It’s practical, focused, and direct, giving participants the skills they need to use their makerspace equipment effectively and confidently on day one.
Professional Development: Educational Purpose Meets Practice
While equipment training answers how a tool works, 1st Maker Space professional development (PD) goes a level deeper, addressing why and when to use tools as part of meaningful student learning. This in-depth support helps educators integrate maker education into the classroom in purposeful and sustainable ways.
1st Maker Space PD includes:
- Hands-on, experiential learning facilitated by the 1MS Ed. Services Team
- Strategies for using makerspace tools that align to standard-aligned 1MS lessons
- Best practices for classroom implementation, management, and student engagement
- Customized agendas based on a school’s unique goals and needs
- Connection to employability and workforce development skills
- Self-paced Maker Manager online courses and immersive multi-day programs that build confidence and leadership skills in maker education
Unlike equipment training, which focuses on tool operation and maintenance, professional development equips educators with teaching strategies, lesson design skills, and the maker mindset, empowering them to design learning experiences that truly resonate with students. PD builds long-term capacity, helps cultivate a school-wide maker culture, and supports educators in aligning maker activities to academic standards, not just activities.
The Value of Going Beyond the Machine
Both training and professional development play important roles in a successful makerspace:
- Equipment training ensures staff know how to operate and care for tools safely.
- Professional development ensures teachers know how to integrate tools into meaningful learning experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, and real student growth.
In short, training helps educators use the tools, professional development helps them use the tools to teach.
By offering both, 1st Maker Space helps schools not only open makerspaces, but sustain them and make them truly impactful, both in the classroom and for students’ futures.
