Throughout April, Academic Technology Program Manager June Peters held four workshops for students in the ULab makerspace during Community Time. The workshops were intended to teach students a variety of skills, ranging from crocheting to 3D printing.
“We have a lot of technology,” Peters said, “including VR, 3D printing, laser cutting, and then more tactile things like knitting, crochet, weaving and so on.”
Across four workshops, 26 new people showed up.
“During the Crocheting workshop, people that didn’t even sign up for the course showed up and started learning,” Peters said.
Peters describes themself as a “librarian of technology” and wants UPrep students to be aware of the opportunities that the makerspace provides. Holding workshops is the first step.
“The more students know, the more students advocate, and the more faculty know and advocate for those things,” Peters said. “And they’ll bring them into classes.”
Peters also believes that the workshops show that the makerspace isn’t only for the robotics team, who are currently the main group of people who spend time in the ULab makerspace.
One of those students is sophomore Fern Frieder, who estimates that they spend around 11-15 hours a week there.
“I think more people should be aware of what you can do there,” Frieder said. “It’s a really valuable space that UPrep puts a lot of time and money into, and it feels like a waste that kids aren’t utilizing it.”
Typically, the workshops consisted of a walkthrough of the selected skill conducted by Peters. After, students were free to either leave or work on a project. After attending the 3D Printing workshop on April 28, sophomore Beckett Nelson felt ready to use the makerspace more often.
“I’ve used [3D printers] in the past, but now I definitely want to use them more,” Nelson said. “It used to be kind of annoying because I needed help, but now I’m more independent, which is going to allow me to 3D print in the ULab more.”
Beyond fostering independence, each workshop taught hands-on skills which have both practical and creative applications.
“Whether you’re doing something functional, or you’re doing something that’s wacky, there’s a wide range of things you can do with those skills,” Peters said. “If something breaks, you can create a replacement for that. But also, if you want to build a Millenium Falcon and put it in your bedroom, you can do that as well.”
Still, Peters believes that the real value of the makerspace is in the skills it teaches, rather than the products made.
“Design thinking is a lifelong skill, and it goes into many aspects, of work, careers, just of everyday life,” Peters said. “So having what students find interesting—whether that’s robotics, crochet, 3D printing or whatever—is a great avenue to learn design thinking and learn a skill for the rest of their life.”
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