Thanks a lot for hosting a workshop at the Makerspace. This is an essential part of our community building and learning. Yes, you’re like a double-rainbow.
To prepare / setup:
Lesson: Have a lesson prepared. Please don’t just wing it. Have slides that are available to all attendees from our “references” page here.
When to arrive: Arrive ~60 minutes before the scheduled time. You’ll need some margin so you’re not scrambling while people arrive. If you have time to spare, you can work on your laptop or socialize.
Where to have your workshop: Typically the best place to host the workshop is in the “studio” space shown here.
Set up the space:
Ask a student staff member to help with this if you’re not one and/or need help.
Wheel over a large whiteboard to the entrance / front desk area and write something like “Arduino Workshop” + a large arrow pointing in the right direction
Rearrange benches and stools.
Wheel over the large TV, turn it on and project Project a slide that says “Welcome to the _______ Workshop” and “Please sign in using the iPads, take some stickers and a treat”
Setup the sound-system if you’ll have a large group and/or you have a quiet voice.
Grab bin of Makerspace stickers + cards
Grab bin of treats
Prepare your equipment: Setup all the equipment you’ll need (e.g. breadboard, kits, multimeters, monitors). Work with other student staff if needed.
Freebies: If snacks / candies are available, put a couple hand-fulls in a plastic bin and bring it out. Also bring out some Makerspace stickers and business cards.
Sign-in Form: Click here for the Sign-in form. You can use Makerspace iPads with keyboards and any other computer nearby if there’s a crowd. There is a shortcut on the desktop of the iPads. Please don’t share the Sign-in link with the students.
Music: I suggest grabbing one of the Bluetooth speakers + “DJ iPhone” and playing music on low volume while people are arriving.
Pictures: Ask a student staff member to come over once the workshop is running and take some pics using one of the Makerspace iPhones.
Just before your event:
Sign-in: As people arrive, ask them to fill out the Sign-in form (see above). It’ll take each person about 1 minute to fill out the form, so you may need multiple iPads and computers going at once.
Be friendly / welcoming:
Say things like “welcome to the Makerspace.”
Let them know that there are coat / bag hooks on the back windows
Chat about their major, interests in the workshop/making/etc.
5-minute Warning: Give people “we’re going to start in about 5 minutes” heads-up.
Reduce noise:
Turn off the music.
Let people know in the area that you’re about to have a workshop.
Start time: Try to start no later than 5 minutes after the scheduled time.
Leave iPad setup for late sign-ups: Leave an iPad up with the Google Form in case someone comes in late. If they do, ask them to please fill out the form.
During your event:
Communicate clearly: Make sure to speak loudly and clearly. Use the sound system if needed (see above).
Be friendly / welcoming:
Welcome everyone again.
Let them know where the bathrooms and vending machines are located
If the group is small enough (<15 or so), do a 2 to 3 minute ice breaker at the beginning. Something simple like people saying their name, major and a hashtag that summarizes their interests in Making (i.e. My name is John, I’m a jr. in Mechanical Engineering and #save-the-world).
Intro/Overview:
Set expectations:
The Makerspace is a space for students and largely run by students.
This is meant to be a very basic intro – they will not be super users after 1 hour.
What they’ll be learning from a high level.
Announce Q&A at end: Let them know that you will be available for a few minutes after the event if they have specific technical or policy questions.
Follow lesson: Follow your lesson as much as possible. It should be fairly structured.
Avoid delays: Feel free to say things like this if you get a lot of questions that’s slowing you down: “that’s a great question, we can chat about that at the end of the workshop in more detail.”
Ending your event:
Thank everyone: Thank everyone for coming – encourage them to check out our website and events.
Announce Q&A again: Let them know again that you will be available for a few minutes after the event if they have specific technical or policy questions.
Explain the next steps
Sales pitch: You need at least a blue permit + pay the $50 fee to use most of the Makerspace equipment. This permit+fee also grants you access to all the equipment and training available in the TEAM-Lab (mills, lathes, welding).
They should come back with an idea and our student staff will help as much as possible to make it happen. Explain how we operate on a DIY on-demand basis. Student staff are there to help, though they may need to wait a few mins if we’re busy.
If they are not from the College of Engineering:
Encourage them to collaborate with someone from CoE. Connect through student orgs or many other means.
And/or mention some of the other resources on campus (e.g. SoHE has a laser cutter, the Library and a dorm have 3D printers, sector 67, madison public library…).
Remind them to:
Sign-in if they haven’t already.
Grab a sticker.
Like us on Facebook.
Officially end workshop: Say “this concludes the workshop – thanks again for coming – I’ll stick around for a bit if others have questions.”
After your event has officially ended:
Q&A: Stick around for as long as you can if people have questions.
Solicit backup: Feel free to ask other student staff to come over to help answer questions.
Reset space:
Return benches and stools if needed.
Return TV, audio system, etc.
Clean up all trash.
Turn off music and return speakers to charging station or hand-of to student staff
Put iPads back by iPhones and plug in for charging
Return all Workshop items such as sticker bins, treats, etc.
