Dr. Budinoff was awarded a new grant from the National Science Foundation with co-PI Edward Berger of Purdue University. This grant will support MADE Lab’s research into makerspaces, 3D printing, and how to develop inclusive practices to engage all students in hands-on fabrication activities. Part of the project summary can be found below, and more information can be found here.
“Academic makerspaces provide engineering students with the means to prototype, experiment, and collaborate, allowing students to gain experience with common engineering tasks. Participation in these spaces can help students to feel connected to the engineering profession and to build their engineering identity, which can impact recruitment, retention, and persistence. However, makerspaces do not always attract and retain diverse students, so students may benefit unequally from participation in these spaces. In this study, a makerspace micro-credentialing program, where students earn digital badges as they master making skills such as digital design and 3D printing, will be explored as a strategy to promote equitable student engagement in makerspaces. Digital badges make student competencies visible, both to students who earn the credential and to their peers and instructors, helping students gain recognition of their skills and helping them feel more secure in their identity as engineers. This study will explore how digital badging in makerspaces impacts identity development in engineering students, exploring the potential of makerspaces to act as a complementary pathway for students to become engineers. Additionally, new strategies to promote equitable makerspace involvement resulting from this study will help engineering educators support the development of an innovative and inclusive engineering workforce.”