Making Spaces Project IOE, UCL
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makingspaces.bsky.social
Making Spaces Project IOE, UCL
@makingspaces.bsky.social
47 followers 18 following 25 posts
Making Spaces is an international collaboration to develop and share inclusive and equitable practices in makerspaces.
We are a partnership of researchers (based at IOE, UCL) and international ISL/ Makerspace practitioners. sihttps://m4kingspaces.or
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makingspaces.bsky.social
✅Read our July 2025 newsletter update now:
mailchi.mp/f73144a2237f...

👍Not on our mailing list? sign up here: mailchi.mp/0b76c9954749...
In this newsletter: 3-STEP approach accredited trainer course update; new papers out now; Join us at ESERA 2025; Other news from the team
July 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
We were thrilled last week to present at #UNIMAKER 2025, at the University of Salford. Dr. Meghna Nag Chowdhuri (Making Spaces co-PI) delivered a lightning talk introducing our project and 3-STEP approach to embedding #equity in #makerspaces. Find out more about our work here: m4kingspaces.org
July 3, 2025 at 2:20 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
We are over half way in our 3-STEP Approach Trainee Accreditation Course! Workshop 4 explored STEP2 'DO' Action areas: Equitable Governance & Inclusive Access and Outreach.

🦸‍♀️ Where does power sit in your organisation and how is equity embedded in your strategy and decision making m4kingspaces.org
Image of a building with three rooms. In each room there are people working. Text in the image reads: Governance, Strategy, Practice: Equity embedded across all.
May 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
New paper from our team exploring relationships between formal and informal #STEM #learning provision, using a 'STEM learning markets' metaphor.
Read now in the international Journal of STEM education:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#markets #ISL #education #youth
@lr-foundation.bsky.social
screen shot of the article publishing page. Article title: From STEM learning ecosystems to STEM learning markets: critically conceptualising relationships between formal and informal STEM learning provision.
April 29, 2025 at 12:33 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
🟢 How would you describe your own pedagogy?​
🟣 What elements make it equitable?
Some questions we asked our 3-STEP approach Accredited Trainee trainees in lasts Thursday's workshop. Feel free to write your responses in the comments below! m4kingspaces.org
#pedagogy #makerspaces #STEM #equity
Equitable pedagogy lightbulb illustration. Inside the lightbulb there are four segments: learning, engagement, values and principles.
April 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
makingspaces.bsky.social
We hosted the 2nd workshops of our 3-STEP Accredited Trainer Course yesterday! Concluding content on STEP 1, we discussed 'discomfort' in #equitable practice, asking how we:
✅ Make a case for #EDI in the face of resistance
✅ Confront #injustice in productive ways

m4kingspaces.org/resources/to...
THE VALUE OF DISCOMFORT (text box) Engaging in critical reflection can sometimes feel uncomfortable for many reasons. For instance, if you are from a more privileged background, then it can feel uncomfortable to recognise the many ways in which you benefit from existing power relations, particularly when this is at the expense of others. It can also be an uncomfortable reminder of painful experiences for those who suffer from societal injustices. As a professional, it can also feel uncomfortable to have your usual way of doing things questioned. But discomfort can be hugely productive and a welcome sign that you are on the right track. When you embrace this discomfort and bravely engage in thoughtful critical reflection it can greatly deepen your practice and understanding. However, we recognise that this process takes time and commitment – equity work is a journey and an ongoing process, it is not a simple tick-box exercise.
March 28, 2025 at 4:11 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
Louise is speaking at the UK Computing Summit at Sheffield Hallam University on 29th/30th April.
BCS, CPHC and UKCRC invites those engaged in higher ed. and computing to connect, learn and shape the conversation around key topics in the sector.
More here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-computi...
Promotion image of the event. Text says I'm speaking at the UK Computing Summit 2025, next to an image of professor Louise Archer (White female wearing glasses). At the bottom of the image are the event sponsor logos, BCS, CPHC and UKCRC.
March 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
makingspaces.bsky.social
Great to start our Accredited Trainer Course today and say hi to participants from around the world!

We started by discussing how to build our 'equity mindset'.

Explore this idea in 'STEP 1: Prepare' in our guidebook and course, available on our website here:
m4kingspaces.org/resources/to...
Illustration showing a brain with a door, and a path leading up to the door. On the path are stick people walking up and down. One of the people stands at the end of the path with a flag. Text around the path says "we are works in progress!" and "An Equity mindset is a Journey!"
February 27, 2025 at 6:07 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
What was the impact of the Making Spaces project 2022-2024 for young people?

Find out more about in our new impact and evaluation report:
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...

#makerspace #ISL #space #equity #inclusion #practitioners #youngpeople
Quote with image of young person writing at a desk. Quote from a youth participant reads: Using the skills I got from participating in the makerspace, my career has been propelled forwards in ways that I could not even imagine. My life has change drastically. Image of a young person using a 3D printer with a quote. The quote from a youth participant reads: Apart from the making, the equipment like 3D printing, I really appreciate the positive behaviour and respect towards us by the facilitators. We could see the facilitators really valued our opinions. It felt like home for us. And to make it more comfortable, I used to address the facilitators as bother and sister.
February 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
makingspaces.bsky.social
What was the impact of the Making Spaces project 2022-2024 for practitioners?

Find out more about in our new impact and evaluation report:
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...

#makerspace #ISL #space #equity #inclusion #practitioners #youngpeople
Quote with image. Quote reads: I have always found it difficult as a woman in this field, because it is a male dominated sector. This project provided an opportunity to share these ideas with my colleagues [...] it has helped normalise these issues within our organisation.
January 27, 2025 at 12:02 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
Over 2,880 young people were engaged in makerspace programmes during the Making Spaces project from September 2022-August 2024!

Find out more about the impact from our project in our new report:
discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...

@lr-foundation.bsky.social
January 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
makingspaces.bsky.social
Read our new Impact and Evaluation Report 2024!
Find out:
🤖 What the project achieved from 2022-2024
🔭 How the work was conducted
🎯 The impact of our activities
🔬 About our findings through illustrative case studies
m4kingspaces.org/wp-content/u...
January 13, 2025 at 10:47 AM
makingspaces.bsky.social
We are delighted to receive funding from @lr-foundation.bsky.social to run an Accredited Trainer Course in 2025. We are recruiting 50 international #STEM practitioners to become accredited trainers of the 3-Steps Towards Equitable Practice Approach in #Makerspaces and #ISL
👉 bit.ly/accreditedtr...
December 16, 2024 at 3:47 PM