how to fail at a makerspace

HOW TO FAIL AT MAKERSPACES

(AND WHY THAT IS OK)

BROWN BIGGERS

UNCG UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

WHEN WE ARE BORN, WE HAVE TWO SKILLS:

[COMPLAINING] AND [PROCESSING FOOD].

THE REST, WE HAVE TO LEARN.

UNCG MAKERSPACE PLAN:

• PURCHASE AND SETUP 3D PRINTER.

• INSTALL SOFTWARE ON PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MACHINES.

• TRAIN STAFF IN ITS USE.

• TRACK ITS USAGE AND DIGITAL MEDIA COMMONS (DMC) ATTENDANCE.

PRINTING IN 3D!HTTP://YOUTU.BE/G-L71VBYB4O

UNCG MAKERSPACE PLAN ACTUAL:

• PURCHASE AND SETUP 3D PRINTER.

• INSTALL SOFTWARE ON PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MACHINES.

• WATCH 3D PRINTER WORK FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS.ONE DAY, RETURN TO IT BROKEN.

• EMAIL TECH SUPPORT.

• RETURN PARTS.

• INSTALL NEW PARTS.

• GO BACK TO “EMAIL TECH SUPPORT” AND REPEAT.AFTER TWO WEEKS OF REPEATING, SEND UNIT BACK TO MANUFACTURER.

• TRAIN STAFF IN ITS USE.

• TRACK ITS USAGE AND DIGITAL MEDIA COMMONS (DMC) ATTENDANCE.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

• WAS THE SYSTEM UNATTENDED FOR TOO LONG?

• WAS IT IMPROPER USE BY STUDENTS OR STAFF?

• WAS IT A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS?

• TRICK QUESTION: NOTHING WENT “WRONG”.

FAILURE IS THE ONLY OPTION.

• WHEN WE MAKE A PLAN AND IT SUCCEEDS, WE LEARN VERY LITTLE.

• WHEN WE MAKE A PLAN AND IT FAILS, WE LEARN VERY QUICKLY.

EMBRACING THE MAKER:

• PATIENCE

• THINGS WILL BREAK.

• YOU AND YOUR PATRONS (AND POSSIBLY YOUR SUPERVISOR) WILL GET FRUSTRATED.

• PLANNING

• WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS BREAK?

• WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET FRUSTRATED?

• SAFETY

• CAN WE DO THIS WITHOUT GETTING HURT?

• CAN WE FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, AND WORK THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES?

ETSY’S JUST CULTURE

• WHEN AN ERROR OR ACCIDENT OCCURS, ETSY INVESTIGATES THE SITUATION, AND THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT.

• ENGINEERS ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE A FULL AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT – WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRIMAND.

• “BLAMELESS POST-MORTEM”

• FAILURE IS INEVITABLE, SO THE EMPHASIS IS ON LEARNING AND IMPROVING, NOT BLAMING AND PUNISHING.

MAKE YOUR SPACE SAFE TO FAIL

• INVITE EXPLORATION.

• ENCOURAGE USERS TO COMMUNICATE WHEN SOMETHING GOES AMISS.

• BE PREPARED FOR FRUSTRATION.

• REFRAIN FROM RESPONDING IN A PUNITIVE MANNER.

• ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT WORK:

• SUPPORT.

• TO COMMUNICATE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY STRUCTURE.

• TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE (BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES).

• APPROPRIATE RULES WITH LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES.

• STAFF WITH THE TIME AND PASSION TO DEVOTE TO THIS INITIATIVE.

HOMEWORK!?!?

• BUY AN ARDUINO, LED AND USB CABLE. ($30 - $40)

• DOWNLOAD THE ARDUINO SOFTWARE: HTTP://ARDUINO.CC/EN/MAIN/SOFTWARE

• MAKE IT BLINK! (HTTP://TRONIXSTUFF.COM/2010/04/04/GETTING-STARTED-WITH-ARDUINO-CHAPTER-ZERO/)

• FRUSTRATED? GOOD.

• WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

REFERENCES & LINKS

• ETSY:HTTP://CODEASCRAFT.COM/2012/05/22/BLAMELESS-POSTMORTEMS/

• WOODS, D. D., DEKKER, S., COOK, R., JOHANNESEN, L., & SARTER, N. (2010). BEHIND HUMAN ERROR, SECOND EDITION. SURREY: ASHGATE PUBLISHING LIMITED.

• MAKE MAGAZINE:HTTP://MAKEZINE.COM/MAGAZINE/MAKE-36-BOARDS/MAKES-ILLUSTRATED-BOARD-GLOSSARY/