Evaluation design- Makerspaces in primary school

The research project aims to develop an evaluation design for makerspaces in primary schools. From a theoretical perspective, the evaluation design can uncover learning environments and spaces, highlight learning processes and learning activities as well as identify the teacher's didactical considerations and pedagogical practice. The evaluation design allows us to support the Villum Fond in an adjustment effort as well as prioritising the strategic efforts within the domain of Children, Youths and Science. The evaluation will contribute with feedback to the eleven municipalities that have received funding for the establishment of makerspaces. This will contribute to the individual municipalities but also to a broader, cross-municipality, more general level in regards to makerspaces. The gathered knowledge and experience will be articulated and conveyed to those interested in establishment of makerspaces. The knowledge to be shared will emerge as a result of the development of patterns and models that among other things will outline the potentials and challenges involved with the shaping of learning environments and pedagogical practice. This is aimed at supporting meaningful use and creation of framework for learning and the organization of makerspaces.

The evaluation is reflected in the gathering of data from municipalities and foundations, questionnaire investigations, document analysis, interviews and mobile ethnography. The project has been funded with 2999000 kr.

This project aims to develop a method to investigate and evaluate makerspace establishment across several case studies of primary schools that have received funding for makerspaces but not quite incorporated regular routines with its use yet.

The research project aims to provide feedback to the funded schools as well as outline a model of potentials and challenges that can be used to create the best environment for learning.