Makerspace Allows Riverwood Students To Explore STEM Activities

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Riverwood International Charter School has announced the addition of a new Makerspace that will allow students to explore their creativity. The Riverwood Foundation was instrumental in funding the new area, which is expected to open during the fall semester.

In addition to making an initial commitment of $25,000, the Foundation secured outside support from both the Sandy Springs Society and the Sandy Springs Education Force. The Sandy Springs Society donated $15,000 in May and the SSEF followed with a $2,000 grant it made in July.

A Makerspace is an updated version of the old high school shop class, which has been redesigned for the 21st Century. The space offers an array of equipment for creation and innovation, such as 3D printers, poster makers, vinyl cutters, screen printers, digital video and sound production systems, and electronic and computer design. With funds committed, initial student planning and implementation sessions are already underway. The core group of students includes two seniors who are taking leadership roles.

“The Riverwood Makerspace is a place for individuals of all backgrounds to explore the world of STEM and
discover how it can be applied to all disciplines," said Riverwood Senior Max Seidel. "This space is a huge leap for Riverwood into the Maker Movement and the future of education.”

Riverwood’s Makerspace is only the second space created in the Fulton County School System. Assistant Principal Scott Kent led the first creation of a Makerspace at Centennial High School in Roswell.

“The kids can come to the Makerspace with a problem or something they want to do, and they are going to go through the learning process the way it works for them," Kent said. "They will make mistakes, but we encourage that because we feel they learn a lot from their mistakes. We encourage them to start over and try something new. The Makerspace is a great springboard to find something they are interested in. We can use the Makerspace to leverage their interest to get them to do the things we need them to do.”

Fellow Riverwood senior Ethan Wells said students are brainstorming the direction they want to take the space. It's important for students to "create a space that builds community, represents diverse cultures and influences, and also represents multiple disciplines," Wells added.

The overarching goal of the space, Kent states, is to bolster the percentage of students engaging in STEM-related activities to help them improve their problem-solving skills and develop the capacity for critical thinking needed to succeed in the world once they leave high school. He also said the space will allow teachers to give students more opportunities to engage more actively with the subjects they teach.

The initial Makerspace will be housed in a collaboration classroom and will move to a permanent space in the fall of 2019. The Riverwood Foundation will continue to fund the Makerspace, and will seek additional
community donations to allow for further growth of the space.

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Photo: Adam Mualam, Faculty Advisor Scott Kent, Jesus Montoya, Casey Schele, Luke Courts, Ethan Wells, Coleman Alvarez, Aldo Lopez, Ryan Stoddard, Piero Maddaleni, Nathan Eads, Lexi Bailey, Max Seidel, Gia Vasquez, Jessica Keen, Emily Woody and Shira Alperin. Credit: Riverwood International Charter School