Makerspace Specialist

Working Schedule

• Makerspace Specialists usually work standard full-time jobs but might participate in after-hour programs or special events. 

Typical Duties

• Creating and maintaining a safe, respectful environment that’s conducive to learning
• Ensuring makerspaces are inclusive and empowering for students and faculty
• Developing programs for launching makerspaces in suitable settings
• Working in close liaison with students and subject matter experts
• Collaborating with libraries and other educators to develop tech-oriented creative activities related to STEM/STEAM subjects like 3D printing, coding, and hands-on projects
• Consulting and mentoring university students during classes and workshops
• Ordering and managing inventory; keeping track of budgets and spending
• Overseeing activities and behavior; correcting or aiding students when necessary

Additional Responsibilities

• Meeting with building liaisons to discuss issues
• Coordinating volunteer sign-ups 
• Participating in relevant committees 
• Collaborating with other makerspaces
• Staffing makerspaces during evening hours, when needed
• Training new makerspace employees 
• Hosting workshops for students and faculty

Soft Skills

• Able to organize events and keep people focused
• Collaborative style
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Creativity
• Energetic
• Enthusiastic about STEM/STEAM topics
• Friendly demeanor
• Leadership and management skills
• Sense of humor
• Strong communication skills, including public speaking
• Ability to teach and pass knowledge of skills 

Technical Skills

• Aptitude for science, technology, engineering, and math...and arts! 
• Knowledge and experience with 3D printing and large format printing
• Hands-on experience using statistical and visualization software

• Community-based organizations
• Education institutions: secondary and postsecondary
• Libraries

Makerspace Specialists should stay abreast of current developments and be ready to effectively implement emerging technologies. They bear a general responsible for helping to equip future leaders and innovators for the demands of the modern era. They’re expected to train students and teachers in ways that add value during the learning process. 
 
Unlike many career fields, there aren’t always clear expectations for makerspace project outcomes. After all, to keep the creativity flowing, learners must be willing to take risks. Makerspace Specialists must realize and explain to their students that they’re operating in a specialized learning environment where failure is an acceptable outcome because it’s part of the learning experience. They have to help students move beyond the books and theories and start putting ideas into real-world practice! 

As an international movement, the makerspace community is really on the rise! From libraries to schools and community rooms, Makerspace Specialists manage and coordinate vibrant environments where abstract concepts meet real-world applications. Library makerspaces, in particular, have begun transforming the role of libraries, turning them from areas of passive information consumption into living-learning environments where students must think critically to solve problems and reach goals. 
 
As technology continues to revolutionize the world we live in and impact virtually every known profession, students must increasingly become comfortable and competent working within STEM/STEAM contexts. Makerspace environments are an ideal playground for students who are new to tech to discover science and tech in a non-threatening way. At the same time, those with existing aptitudes can design, invent, and implement concepts that might later be developed into marketable products. 

Most budding Makerspace Specialists were likely inclined to learn STEM subjects, of course. They might also have had an early interest in teaching others what they discovered, which is a critical aspect of success in this field. They’re imaginative and love innovation! The very thought of pushing the envelope and cutting new paths through collaborative learning excites them to no end. 

Mobile technology and the Internet inspired many to enter this field, putting the tools of the 21st century to educational use while challenging traditional learning methodologies. In their younger days, Makerspace Specialists may have drawn inspiration from science fiction concepts, as well as from simply tinkering with increasingly sophisticated LEGO kits like MINDSTORMS. Though they might not think in terms of lofty, globe-spanning goals, there is no doubt that Makerspace Specialists make the educational process more fun, which can profoundly impact the future of humanity.