By Maddie Nerad
Executive Opinion Editor
Makerspace is an innovative elementary school program that the Manhattan Beach Unified School District should prioritize and expand upon in the future.
Makerspace is an extracurricular program in which elementary students create imaginative projects. Through Makerspace, students at MBUSD elementary schools have participated in projects such as coding, making jewelry and creating vehicles at lunchtime and after-school meetings. The program teaches valuable problem-solving skills and should be incorporated into the curriculum in addition to being an extracurricular activity.
According to the United States Department of Education, relatively few students pursue expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Makerspace is a viable way to help students gain interest in these fields.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews hopes the district can infuse Makerspace into elementary school science curriculum to inspire students to create and pursue the rigorous curriculum that it takes to be an engineer or scientist.
MBUSD Executive Director of Educational Services Dr. Brett Geithman believes the Makerspace program will help put MBUSD programs ahead of other schools in implementing the Next Generation of Science Standards in upcoming years. These standards have a significant engineering component, and exposing students to Makerspace will familiarize them with the material.
Grand View science specialist Gretchen Renshaw worked to develop the program at Pacific Elementary School in 2014. As it expands, MBUSD should hire a teacher to incorporate the curriculum into the classroom to supplement the existing program.
According to Pacific Makerspace coordinator Cathy Hobart, introducing a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics program to students, even in kindergarten, is helpful because it gets them to be creative problem solvers at an early age.
Students can take STEM electives at Manhattan Beach Middle School and the planned Biotechnology class at Costa to continue to pursue a STEM-focused curriculum throughout their time in MBUSD. Makerspace promotes continued collaboration between schools that will help students further explore this passion.
According to Pacific Elementary Principal Kim Linz, this program is a natural outgrowth from the iPad implementation at the elementary schools. Coordinators are also looking into investing in technology such as a 3D printer and a laser cutter. This program has the potential to introduce new technology in a deliberate, useful way to young students.
According to Linz, the parent volunteers at Makerspace can only give hands-off help, which means they cannot show students how to complete the task, but can prompt them with questions. This untraditional approach allows students to learn from their mistakes and provides students with valuable learning opportunities that help them assess and solve real-world problems.
Currently, Pacific’s Parent Teacher Association as well as grants from Manhattan Beach Rotary and Chevron fund Makerspace. In the future, the district should continue to pursue community grants from local companies and find aid from PTAs and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation to help expand this valuable program.
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