If you walk by the York Suburban Middle School Library these days, you may be surprised to see students engaged in building and programming Lego robots or implementing the engineering design process to solve a K’nex STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics) challenge.
York Suburban Middle School is in the process of developing one of the most exciting library spaces to meet the ever changing needs of the 21st century learner. The goal is to offer a vibrant, flexible, and relative space for all students to engage in project-based learning that allows exploration and tinkering, imagination and creativity, innovation and collaboration. These learning opportunities will focus on both high tech and low tech options.
In addition,the makerspace allows for collaboration among subject areas and curriculum requirements. Currently, Mr. Jared Moore’s Applied Engineering and Technology classes and Mr. Matthew Moran’s Computer Information and Technology classes are delivering engaging and collaborative units in the newly purposed library space. Sixth graders are experimenting with gear ratios and bridge design. Seventh grade learners are involved with the construction and marketing of a product. Mrs. Karen Campbell and Mrs. Donna Joy Krane have supplemented the Applied Engineering and Technology course by implementing the engineering design process to solve K’nex STEAM challenges. Later units will have eighth graders building and programming Lego EV3 Mindstorm robots. Potential collaboration for the future includes a manufacturing enterprise unit that combines the current manufacturing project with the 8th grade business and accounting curriculum. Through these two courses, all YSMS students will participate in the initial phase of implementation.
As the phases of the makerspace evolve, the vision is to include areas where students can experiment and demonstrate their creative and innovative talents. Stations under consideration are: a one button studio for video recording; reverse engineering where students deconstruct small machines and invent a new device; coding; electronics; and Arduino. MakerCare features creative projects to benefit the community such as dog toys for the SPCA. Low tech areas will include poetry writing, fabric arts, 3-D printing, T-shirt design, puppetry, Duct tape projects, and music composition.
Students in Mrs. Heather Peterson’s class are also involved with the makerspace as they sort and categorize Lego and K’nex pieces by shape and color. Participating in this project offers these students an opportunity to develop real life vocational skills. By preparing the K’nex and Lego items for the makerspace, the students from the Autistic Support class interact with each other while simultaneously learning organizational skills, time management, and responsibility. These skills will transfer to the classroom and future job sites.
This is an exciting and productive time at York Suburban Middle School. Our students love the re-purposed library space.