Makerspaces are quickly becoming a staple of the K–12 school environment, but with universities’ access to resources and innovative research, higher education institutions are also in a great position to drive the maker movement.
Experts at higher ed organizations, like EDUCAUSE, have touted makerspaces as a way for college students to get out of their comfort zones and play with technology to understand, in practice, theories they learn in the classroom. Makerspaces, with their emphasis on creativity and imaginative problem-solving, also tie in nicely with the growing push to instill entrepreneurial thinking — a goal valued by employers and institutions alike.
Over the next few years, I expect that makerspaces will continue to bring about innovative technology use in higher education, thanks to their unique ability to develop analytical skills and higher-order thinking.
