6: Student Engagement through Collaborative Construction of Knowledge in Makerspaces

When completing specific tasks, groups will often reflect on the impact of constructing and designing a group project while multiple individual models and backgrounds are combined in a type of social influence. Students are often expected to establish connections and share knowledge in group collaborative work. Many times, groups gather and discuss ideas without really making connections with each other’s ideas. They are more focussed on the completion of a task than the process of completing it.

Finding ways to enhance social construction is important towards total participation. Objects can provide an atmosphere of sharing as well as an introduction to these new ideas. Collaboration tools can be used to help ensure that each member contributes using various objects found in a maker common area. This community building process and adaptation will increase group formation and clarification.