Making and learning together: Where the makerspace mindset meets platforms for creativity

While makerspaces are rightly recognized as places for getting people of all ages together to experiment with materials, technologies, processes, and narratives, they are inevitably limited by physical resources of time, space, and money. The appealingly inclusive concept of a “makerspace mindset”—that is, a worldview that admits the possibility of gathering and collaborating a creative fellowship without borders—can facilitate the goal of a global learning community. To meet that goal, however, new thinking must identify how to equitably direct efforts toward a more expansive and sustainable culture for creating. Articulating how and why the vast array of events, environments, tools, or toys that encourage people to create can promote making and connecting is the first step. This article elaborates on our existing work regarding platforms for creativity to consider those principles the makerspace mindset must manifest to encourage learning for a lifetime. We argue that imagining the makerspace mindset as a key plank in platforms for creativity can inspire the development of more and better ways for us to learn about ourselves and others by making and sharing. Framing the makerspace mindset with platforms for creativity illuminates the potential for making and learning to grow creative, curious individuals who together will form an engaged society of learners at large.