Makeative makerspaces: when the pedagogy is makeative

This chapter analyses what it means to be practising makeative pedagogy in makerspaces. Being makeative is an approach to practising makerspaces based on an open pedagogy that emphasizes an ongoing flexibility to investigate and invent with any kind of materials and tools, and in any kind of spaces. It is matter of being open to the unforeseen, no matter what materials, tools or location. This pedagogical approach is based on a series of empirical research projects on makerspaces in Denmark. These projects have been facilitated at a municipal school, Katrinebjergskolen, and a municipal library, DOKK1, in Aarhus. The makeative approach evolved from a pedagogical and research method called Next Practice Labs, where children, professionals and researchers act together in experimenting communities facilitated in open laboratories. In this chapter we present how the makeative approach evolved through three steps integral to three Danish makerspace projects, highlighted as: step 1) starting makeative acts, step 2) exploring makeative narratives and step 3) developing makeative playgrounds.

Analysis of what it means to be practising makeative pedagogy in makerspaces