Download - 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.
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/
