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PDFOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access
Thesis
Makerspace Communities and Ecosystem Strategy: Co-Creating Social and Operational Infrastructure
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001690
Abstract
Makerspaces have emerged as institutions with the potential to foster optimal environments for accessible STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education, cross-/inter-disciplinary collaboration, economic growth, and entrepreneurial support. With access to resources, tools, and skill-based programming, these spaces could create more equitable futures of maker education and reintroduce systems of local manufacturing while encouraging more sustainable production practices. However, these places face many barriers to long-lasting success including universal standards of operating, mismatched resources to community needs, scalability, accessibility, and focused efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This research aims to capture a holistic view of the issues facing makerspaces at various scales. This study deploys multiple qualitative design research methods for more thorough data collection, contributing to the existing research pool, with the aim of guiding important future research areas. Through literature review, interviews, observational studies, collage analysis, and participatory/co-design workshops, the co-development of an ideation card deck emerges as a boundary object for all stakeholders within the makerspace ecosystem to use when addressing the systemic barriers preventing makerspaces from reaching their potential.
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Details
- Title
- Makerspace Communities and Ecosystem Strategy
- Creators
- Mary Kahle
- Contributors
- Nicole Koltick (Advisor)Diana S. Nicholas (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xx, 123 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Architecture, Design, and Urbanism; Design Research; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 991020879312504721