5 cool makerspaces that will make you wish your school has one

A makerspace is a place where people work on projects, network and ultimately, build cool stuff.In schools, they help students develop their skills and creativity, inspiring young learners to engage with the STEAM agenda – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts. As Dale Dougherty, considered by some to be the founder of the maker movement, explains to The New York Times:“It’s this sort of creative process of taking an idea, developing it, using tools and techniques to make it real.”As the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on the future of work dawns, governments and educators are banking on makerspaces to promote high-end technology skills in a bid to future-proof students and workers alike. Others who are more skeptical on its revolutionary nature, believe it could serve at as a powerful antidote to the rote learning method that has dominated education systems for decades.Whichever side you’re on, projects that have emerged from makerspaces have been nothing short of awesome. Here are some of our favourites from schools around the world: Working with Carnegie Mellon University and Lego Education, the K-4 school created the “Brick Makerspace” to integrate principles of STEAM education throughout the curriculum. Themed on LEGO bricks, the space hosts activities like brick-building, 3D printing, car racing, stop-motion animation and even an interactive mixed reality system that lets students build structures and test their physical properties.