Establishing a Virtual Makerspace for an Online Graduate Course: A Design Case

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Published: Jun 24, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14434/ijdl.v8i1.22573

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Kevin M. Oliver
North Carolina State University
Robert L. Moore
North Carolina State University
Michael A. Evans
North Carolina State University

Abstract

This design case discusses key steps taken to establish a virtual makerspace for students enrolled in an online graduate course on informal learning. Two key design decisions are elaborated around (a) the selection of appropriate projects and packaged materials that distance education students can receive by mail to participate in making, and (b) the choice of an online platform for distance education students to document their design processes for assessment purposes and peer interaction and learning. This design case is relevant to a variety of online communities who may wish to engage in maker activities as well as isolated face-to-face communities or individuals who may not have local mentors to support informal making and could, therefore, benefit from online connectivity to an expert or peer support. To promote replication of the design, materials and community tools to support making among geographically dispersed makers are detailed.

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How to Cite
Oliver, K. M., Moore, R. L., & Evans, M. A. (2017). Establishing a Virtual Makerspace for an Online Graduate Course: A Design Case. International Journal of Designs for Learning, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.14434/ijdl.v8i1.22573
Issue
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2017): Special Issue: Makerspace Design Cases
Section
Makerspaces

Copyright © 2023 by the International Journal of Designs for Learning, a publication of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and Indiana University. Permission to make digital or hard copies of portions of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page in print or the first screen in digital media. Except as otherwise noted, the content published by IJDL is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA. A simpler version of this statement is available here.

Author Biographies

Kevin M. Oliver, North Carolina State University

Kevin Oliver is an Associate Professor of Digital Learning and Teaching in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences at North Carolina State University.

Robert L. Moore, North Carolina State University

Robert Moore is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences at North Carolina State University.

Michael A. Evans, North Carolina State University

Michael A. Evans joined North Carolina State University in August 2014 as a Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program cluster hire in the Digital Transformation of Education. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences specializing in Digital Learning and Teaching.

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