Makerspaces Serve a Broad User Base at Schools
The maker movement has flourished in university settings in recent years, says Joseph Gottbrath, senior technical director of the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, and a board member for the Higher Education Makerspaces Initiative, which addresses academic makerspace challenges and best practices.
While facilities vary, survey results published in the International Journal of Academic Makerspaces and Making indicate software such as Microsoft Office, the Adobe Creative Suite and CAD programs are often commonly included, along with core tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters.
“They are using a variety of machines; some very old technologies, some new,” Gottbrath says. “Machines that were really just for the trades are much more accessible in makerspaces. We’re replicating…
