The Think Lab and Makerspace project will provide K-8 students and local community members an opportunity to share resources and knowledge by building things together. The makerspace will combine a workshop, a tool shed, a computer lab, and a machine shop. In this space, new and veteran makers will work together on real and meaningful projects, using technologies and tools in an innovative way. Making is both innovative and resourceful and through making, students and community members identify challenges and solve problems.
The hands-on nature of a makerspace also means that the environment needs to support a wide range of equipment without getting in the way of the people using it. Computers may be running alongside machines and other electronic tools, while several projects could be taking place at once. Keeping those work areas organized helps students move between activities more easily and gives everyone a safer, more practical space for experimenting. Good planning matters here because the equipment itself becomes part of the learning experience, allowing students to see how different technologies work together rather than treating each tool as something separate.
Power management becomes another practical consideration when a computer lab and workshop share the same space. Multiple devices may need electricity at the same time, particularly when computers, networking equipment, and other IT hardware are grouped together. In setups involving several pieces of rack-mounted equipment, power distribution units help organize how electrical power is delivered to connected devices rather than relying on a collection of scattered connections.
This kind of infrastructure may sit quietly in the background, but it supports the makerspace’s broader purpose by helping keep essential equipment powered and available while students and community members concentrate on building, testing, and solving problems.
Stay tuned for ways to get involved in this exciting project!
