5 Tips to Keep the Makerspace Organized
As students across the nation head back to school this month, educators everywhere are organizing classrooms, libraries, makerspaces, and STEM labs to create systems that work for students and educators alike. Great systems = less work cleaning up!
Here are three tips to help you organize your makerspace:
Keep consumables open and available for student use, but label everything! There is often a balance in student learning environments about what to lock up vs. what to keep out for student use. When doing open-ended projects, students should have access to the consumable materials to see what is available when they are designing and redesigning their prototypes. Our Mobile Make Storage Cart has open bins in multiple sizes and colors, so you can organize by size or color and label the bins. This cart is mobile with double-locking casters so it can be wheeled to different locations or secured away when making is not in session. More expensive items, like electronics can be secured in a locking cabinet when not in use.
Mobile Maker Storage Cart
2. Organize smaller student projects in Ziplock bags and store them in milk crates. If you are working on smaller projects with students, like the Bristlebot, Solar Bug, or even TeacherGeek builds like the Toy Design Workshop, consider storing projects-in-progress in Ziplock bags labeled with the student names and class period (if applicable). Using the Mobile Maker Storage Tower, dedicate one milk crate to these projects and label with the teacher’s name. Many projects take multiple class periods to complete, so this keeps materials organized between sessions!
Mobile Maker Storage Tower
3. Organize tools with pegboards. Tools of all sizes can be found in makerspaces, but they can easily be lost if kept in closed cabinets. Organizing tools with pegboard, like with our Mobile Visible Tool Cart, to allow students to both see what tools are available and know where to return tools when finished. For frustration-free pegboard hooks, try the DuraHook Kit which screws into the pegboard.
Mobile Visible Tool Cart
4. Categorize recyclables as they are donated. Using open bins to store clean recyclables as they are donated to the makerspace. This three-tiered bin system has casters, and each bin can be labeled. Try fiber bins or large garbage cans for large quantities of recyclables.
5. Dedicate at least 5 minutes to cleaning up. Students should be part of the process when it comes to keeping the makerspace clean and organized. Outline student expectations clearly and then give them time to clean-up every class period. Assigning different jobs for cleanup can also help students take responsibility.