“Making in education can be tremendously valuable, particularly when it gives students from disadvantaged groups access to the types of hands-on education and opportunities they would not otherwise receive.”
Debbie Chachra, “Beyond Making,” in Making Things and Drawing Boundaries: Experiments in the Digital Humanities, ed. Jentry Sayers, Debates in the Digital Humanities (University of Minnesota Press, 2017).
When I read Debbie Chachra’s Beyond Making, I was particularly drawn to the end portion of her chapter, as quoted above. Debbie points out that “making” can give students access to new opportunities, and I could not agree more. Unlike my high school, Carleton allows much more freedom to take courses that are not only better funded but also better aligned with my interests.
Reflecting on my own previous experience in high school, my school did not offer many engineering classes. The closest access we had to creation was physics and chemistry experiments. Whenever I wanted to take on a more creative project, I would always have to take it upon myself to source the materials, many of my other POC friends having similar experiences. When I got to Carleton, I was given resources to help pay for textbooks as well as be introduced to clubs and spaces that embrace innovation, a prime example being Carleton’s Makerspace. The great thing about the Makerspace is that you don’t have to be enrolled in a particular class to use it, and they also have very flexible hours. I’ve had the privilege to use it for a variety of reasons, one being a group entrepreneurship competition that I participated in.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so having more tools at my disposal, such as Fusion and the Makerspace, has been incredibly useful, and I wish that I had taken Digital Arts classes earlier for that reason. From the large umbrella of Digital Humanities, I’m excited to pursue 3D design because it is a tool that I’ve always found fascinating but hadn’t been able to use. I hope that throughout the term, I can continue to build this skill and even start projects unrelated to the given assignments.
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I love hearing that the Makerspace has helped you tap in to your creative and entrepreneurial spirit! I certainly relate to feeling appreciative of Carleton’s full funding after a background where resources were scarce. It is equal parts affirming as it is inviting. I think that this class will certainly make me appreciate all the resources that I have here, and I may be joining you in making projects unrelated to class. 🙂