Poster
Maker Breaks: a new spin on creative workshops
Association of College & Research Libraries (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 04/02/2025–04/05/2025)
04/04/2025
Abstract
In the spring of 2024, our library launched an innovative outreach initiative called Maker Breaks, designed to offer students a brief, creative respite from their academic routines. Unlike our traditional classroom-style teaching and other hands-on workshops, Maker Breaks provide 10 to 20-minute crafting sessions that integrate STEM concepts, allowing students to engage in a fun and educational activity that could be done anytime during a two-hour window.
To increase accessibility and participation, we eliminated the need for sign-ups and relocated the workshops to a prominent area within the engineering building. This strategic move enabled our staff to interact with students in a more relaxed and informal environment, fostering greater engagement.
The activities for Maker Breaks were carefully chosen based on their relevance to engineering fields, alignment with unique holidays, and the availability and cost-effectiveness of materials. Some of the popular Maker Breaks included creating origami leapfrogs with LED eyes for Leap Day (February 29th), crafting chia buddies for Earth Day (April 22nd), assembling paper circuit nightlights for homecoming, and making DIY handwarmers for a November activity.
The success of Maker Breaks lies in their simplicity and replicability. These workshops effectively attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, staff, and faculty who might not typically visit the library. By breaking down preconceived notions about academic libraries and their resources, Maker Breaks provided a welcoming space for individuals to take a mental break and enjoy a moment of creativity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Maker Breaks: a new spin on creative workshops
- Creators
- Amanda Gunnink (Author) - University of IowaKari A Kozak - University of Iowa, Branch LibrariesQing Xu (Author) - Emory UniversityJames Cox - University of Iowa, Branch LibrariesMarina Zhang - University of Iowa, Branch Libraries
- Resource Type
- Poster
- Event
- Association of College & Research Libraries (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 04/02/2025–04/05/2025)
- Number of pages
- 1 poster
- Language
- English
- Date presented
- 04/04/2025
- Academic Unit
- Branch Libraries; Engineering Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984797674602771
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