Reflections on Innovation

I went to a wonderful one day conference, an educonference, yesterday.  We learned about some great innovations in technology and ways to use them with students. Or rather, to collect these resources and allow students to create their own learning!  It was an exciting day, learning about Makerspaces, one word for a vast spectrum of ideas, watching students demonstrate their thinking with technology, hearing what new things are happening in other school libraries. 
Now it is the day after, and I am reflecting on all of that.  I guess my first question should be, what exactly do I want as an outcome of this?  What should I offer?  Who should be involved?  How can it be funded?

Thinking outside the box

Here are the steps I plan to take:

• 1. Create a survey for students, learning what they would like to have.
• 2. Create a steering committee of interested students, and go through collected data to formulate a plan of action.
• 3. Take plan to administration and determine follow through opportunities.
• 4. Set up Makerspace model and see what happens!
• 5. Reevaluation after a period of time.

That sounds so matter of fact, so opposite of the creative ideas behind makerspaces, but seems essential for success.

What do I hope to gain from this endeavor?  A new space in the media center for students to have a creative outlet, a place to safely "push the envelope", a haven for students who feel out of step with others. 

How about you?  Are you reflecting on innovation?  What do you see as the future of your teaching and learning space?