Introduction This article focuses on the establishment and innovative use of the Funda UJabule (FUJS) Makerspace for initial teacher education at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Education. In this article, I will highlight makerspace development, educational impact, and integration into teaching programmes, showcasing how it shapes pre-service teachers (PSTs) innovative pedagogies. Background to the Makerspace The Faculty of Education at the UJ stands at the forefront of educational innovation by establishing a makerspace at the heart of initial teacher education in the Department of Childhood Education (DCE). This initiative responds to the growing demand on teacher educators to prepare students for a rapidly changing world, equipping them with essential 21st-century competencies such as creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, as well as computational thinking to teach for learning, as highlighted by researchers like Afandi et al. (2018) and Gravett (2022). The DCE makerspace is not merely a room filled with tools and resources but serves as an environment where meaningful learning is cultivated through playful, hands-on, and mind-on experiences. Our makerspace is crucial in promoting teacher development and revolutionising how we teach. It allows PSTs to explore various teaching strategies to improve instruction quality and learning environments. These strategies can support meaningful learning experiences (Guerriero, 2017). This aligns perfectly with the idea that carefully crafted teaching strategies directly impact student learning outcomes (Van Damme, 2017). History of the FUJS Makerspace The FUJS Makerspace owes its inception to Professor Sarah Gravett, who envisioned the project in 2022. She aimed to transform a disused space located at the back of the FUJS lecture halls and turn it into a makerspace focused on fostering innovation in initial teacher education and day-to-day teaching and learning at the school. The space is also used for research to advance teaching and learning methodologies in teacher education. Image 1: Entrance to the FUJS Makerspace The official launch of the makerspace was held in April 2023. This event was graced by a range of delegates from various educational sectors. Distinguished guests, including Dr. Phumzile Mlambo Ncuka, the Chancellor of UJ, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi, the Vice-Chancellor, and Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Surab Sinha and Prof. Sehaam Khan, attended the launch. The event included an opening address by Prof Mpedi, comments from Mrs Antoinette Nicolaai of the Gauteng Department of Education, and remarks from Mr Tsekiso Maneli, the FUJS SGB Chairperson. Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Nadine Petersen, welcomed the attendees, while Professor of Education, Prof Sarah Gravett, gave the vote of thanks. Since its launch, the makerspace attracted local and international visitors. Delegates from UNESCO, the LEGO Foundation, and African leaders, among others, paid a visit. More recently, PSTs from the University of Cincinnati had the opportunity to spend time in the makerspace. These visits highlight the makerspace appeal as an environment for demonstrating educational innovation at UJ. Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching Innovation Projects 2024 6
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