School of Public Policy 597MM - ST-Adv Makerspace Ldrhshp II

In this class UMass students have the opportunity to identify and work on a problem or project that they are (1) interested and passionate about, (2) potentially can be worked on across multiple semesters, and (3) is in an interdisciplinary social, "maker culture" environment. The "maker culture" emphasizes learning through doing-it-yourself, or doing-it-together, in a social environment and utilizing open access licensed materials available on the Internet. In traditional (non-pandemic) semesters, the class meets in the UMass All Campus Makerspace -- a physical location where people gather to share resources and knowledge, socialize, and work on projects. But in this pandemic, online semester, some traditional making activities such as woodworking in a shared woodshop, are not possible. But "digital making" opportunities -- such as programming, digital art, prototyping using low-cost tools and materials at one's home, and even social science or policy analysis -- can potentially flourish. With some creativity, the most important aspects of the makerspace can be brought online -- and in this class that's what we, instructors and students together, will strive to do. Throughout the experience, students will gain exposure to maker culture, open scholarship, concepts around intellectual property, open data practices and access, and will have the opportunity to publish and share their work at the global level if they desire.

SPP 597M and 597ML Advanced section for SPP 597M and SPP 597ML - all meet together.