美国社区创客教育的载体——社区创客空间的发展动力、功用与应用

On the Functions and Application of Community Maker Space in USA

美国推进全民创客行动的进程中,非常重视社区创客空间的建设,并积极动员全美各地区、各社区重视将创客行动纳入区域与社区的发展计划,众多社区创客空间明确提出自身所担负的教育责任。基于对美国若干社区创客空间建设目标与运行方式的分析,本文探析了作为社区创客教育主要载体的创客空间的发展动力、功用与应用。研究发现,技术与社会的发展是美国社区创客空间发展的根本动力,全美创客行动的深化实践则是美国社区创客空间发展的基本依托。在功用维度,美国社区创客空间具有培养社区成员创造创新能力、提升社区成员创业就业技能的教育功用,同时又具有创生就业创业机会、促进社区经济发展的经济功用;在应用维度,美国社区创客空间主要通过精心规划功能区支持多样化创客活动、采用适当的运行形式、多途径开展创客教育、多方位促进创客空间高效利用等实现并优化空间的应用。

In the United States, most research on maker education have been on how to innovate and enhance school education based on ＂Learning by Making＂. However, in practice, the construction and application of community makerspaces have been highlighted and all districts and communities are required to consider integrating maker move- ment into local development. Most community makerspaces in the United States recognize themselves as educational or- ganizations for community makers. This study discusses the driving forces, functions and applications of community makerspaces in the USA. The analysis shows that, the development of modern society and economy is the fundamental driving forces for community makerspace development, and the acceleration of maker movement facilitates the growth of community makerspaces. As for functions, a community makerspace not only serves as community maker education for the cultivation of community creativity and entrepreneurship, but also promotes community economy growth and im- proves the living quality of community members. The effective application of community makerspaces depends on delib- erate design of function areas, suitable running and management modes, various maker education implementation methods, and intentional supports and promotion strategies.