The Innovation Proposal below is a part of a innovative plan to change the environment of the elementary library I currently manage by incorporating makerspaces. After reading the proposal, I suggest you read the literature review to see how research supports this plan. Once you have completed the review, I recommend you view the implementation plan.
Cody Johnson Bowie Elementary Librarian December 5, 2018
Hollye Usery Principal, Bowie Elementary
Dear Mrs. Usery, I have recently integrated STEM activities into the library since I became the librarian this school year. As each class visits the library once a week for 30 minutes, they engage in a variety of stations and activities centered around STEM concepts. These activities have been well received by students and staff alike. Students are now excited to come to the library and many students comment to me it is their favorite part of the week. Since this simple STEM implementation has been successful, I would like to proceed with the next phase of changes in the library by creating a makerspace environment within the library that all students would have access to during the day and before school. This would involve creating permanent or semi-permanent locations within the library for students to explore various topics, engage in creative design, and pursue interests, such as coding, construction, and robotics, they would normally not have the chance to pursue in the regular classroom. I would like to utilize the time before school starts and the flex hours in the library schedule during the week to start the implementation. While many schools and programs I have researched that have started makerspaces have invested in high-end technologies such as 3D printers, iPads, and programming robots, I do not feel we are quite ready for these items just yet, however, if the initial phase is successful, I would like to start using funds from the library budget, along with possible education foundation grant funds, to invest in these types of technologies and equipment. For now, we have enough supplies and equipment to get started with a small, but effective, makerspace. My primary focus at this point is not funds and equipment, but support from you and the staff in implementing the makerspace and allowing the library to be open for students before school and, as time permits in the classroom schedule, during flex times for students to utilize the makerspace. I would love the opportunity to sit down and discuss my ideas with you and see how this makerspace implementation could meet district goals and campus improvement plan goals.