--- title: Top Ways to get started with Maker Education description: Finding the resources to get started with a makerspace or maker education can be the hardest part of incorporating them into instruction. These tips will help. image: https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/August%202017/6870961887_9b9876b0be_z.jpg --- [![Sparkfun](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) - [SparkFun Webstore](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Higher Ed](https://sparkfuneducation.com/higher-ed/index.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [Follow Us](https://twitter.com/SparkFunEDU) - [Home](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Blog](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Curriculum](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/curriculum.html) - [PD/Events](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/professional-dev.html) - [KITS/Materials](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/materials.html) - [Educator Stories](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/educator-stories.html) - [Activities](https://activities.sparkfuneducation.com) [Blog Home](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/) / [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) / Top Ways to get started with Maker Education # Top Ways to get started with Maker Education BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 8/29/17 6:35 AM [1](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/top-ways-to-get-started-with-maker-education#comments-listing) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education), [makerspace](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makerspace), [funding](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/funding), [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started), [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) ![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Feb%202017/Cool%20Hemmings.jpg) Are you looking to get started with [maker education](https://sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-maker-education.html) but aren’t sure where to start or how to get buy in from the community? Check out this post on [why makerspaces are important](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/top-5-reasons-your-school-needs-a-makerspace), then check out these tips on getting started that we’ve heard from the community. ![students working on maker education project](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/August%202017/6870961887_9b9876b0be_z.jpg?width=275&name=6870961887_9b9876b0be_z.jpg "students working on maker education project") ## Funding a Makerspace and Materials - *Find free space* - look around your school to find any unused classrooms, labs or closets that can be converted into a makerspace - *Open the space up to the community after hours* - during non-school hours, many school makerspaces sit empty. By opening up the space to the community (for a fee) it’s possible to recoup some of the costs and generate excitement. - *Look to the trash for materials* - recyclables make great craft materials, many organizations such as [RAFT](https://www.sparkfun.com/raft) even work with local companies to intercept materials before they hit the dumpster. - *Ask for material donations* - you might be surprised what some parents have laying around the house - *Stretch the budget you do have* - choose reuseables, look for inexpensive hardware that can be used by multiple students at once (don’t immediately go for the flashy 3D printer or CNC machine) - *Check for grants that may be available in your area*  - [here’s one source](https://www.edutopia.org/grants-and-resources) that may be helpful ## Getting Buy in From the School - *Start a student club to gauge interest* - check out this post on [what a makerspace club can do for your school](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/10-things-a-makerspace-club-can-do-for-your-school) - *Ask students what they want* - getting buy in from students makes them more excited about using the space - *Encourage educators to try the space* - makerspaces can be intimidating for instructors who aren’t used to them, remove that barrier by encouraging them to try it out without students first - *Provide professional learning for educators wishing to use the space* - the main hesitation we hear to incorporating maker education into instruction is a lack of preparedness from educators, providing learning opportunities makes them more comfortable with using the space ## Extra Advice - *Don’t wait until you know everything* - the educators who are [most successful with maker education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/the-worst-advice-weve-ever-heard-about-maker-education) are the ones who jump right in - *Use electronics kits* - for those getting started, [kits](http://sparkfuneducation.com/products/kits.html) or [makerspaces-in-a-box](https://www.sparkfun.com/wish_lists/131259) are less overwhelming than trying to pick all the parts individually. As a bonus, kits usually comes with a guidebook to teach students about different circuits, removing some of the pressure from the educator. Have you started a makerspace? 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