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18-12-2023 | Original Paper

Vibe Check: A 360-degree Enumeration of the Common Features of a University Makerspace

Authors: Marijel Melo, Laura March, Kimberly Hirsh, Emily Arnsberg

Published in: TechTrends | Issue 2/2024

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Abstract

To better grasp the issue of underrepresentation in makerspaces, it's crucial to closely examine the environment where these problems arise. A spatial enumeration of a makerspace, which is a complete listing of items within a collection or environment, extends such an evaluation. By responding to this overarching research question, “why do students from underrepresented communities turn away at the threshold of a makerspace,” this article provides findings from the first phase of a five-year, qualitative research program. Specifically, this paper presents the sensory features (sight, sound, smell) that comprise a university makerspace. The process and findings from enumerating a makerspace offer vital insights into how STEM-focused environments convey inclusivity. Seventeen makerspace leaders from a university network were asked to discern what a typical makerspace looks, sounds, and smells like. The findings from this study provide information professionals with entry points to analyze their makerspace from a DEI standpoint.

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Title: Vibe Check: A 360-degree Enumeration of the Common Features of a University Makerspace
Authors: Marijel Melo
Laura March
Kimberly Hirsh
Emily Arnsberg
Publication date: 18-12-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: TechTrends / Issue 2/2024
Print ISSN: 8756-3894
Electronic ISSN: 1559-7075
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-023-00919-w

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Vibe Check: A 360-degree Enumeration of the Common Features of a University Makerspace

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