POTSDAM -- With the start of the 2016-17 school year, Potsdam Central Middle School is fundraising to create a “Makerspace” at their library as a setting to facilitate creativity and innovation.

Students can use a variety of resources to explore technology, engineering, and science through designing, making, tinkering, and collaborating, said Mark Bennett, A.A. Kingston Middle School Principal.

“They will hone their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while becoming adept at using the design process,” he said. “We envision our ‘Makerspace’ to be used by students during their free time/study halls and as part of an after-school club. Teachers and their classes will also be able to take advantage of this space to work on projects and extend learning beyond the classroom.”

Makerspaces are generally filled with a variety of tools, computers, and consumable and reusable materials and supplies.

“Earlier this year, several teachers and I wrote a grant proposal to the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE), and we were awarded funding to purchase a 3D printer,” he said.

This device will be placed in the AAK Makerspace for student and teacher use.

“We are also in the process of applying for additional funding through the Corning Foundation to purchase more equipment,” Bennett said. “In order to realize our AAK Makerspace, we need your help.

Those who would like to support can do so by donating household and craft materials and dropping them off in the bins located in the AAK main lobby.

Materials for donations can include cardboard, paper towel/toilet paper rolls, fabric scarps, popsicle sticks, markers, crayons, colored pencils, paper, tape, hot glue guns, glue sticks, glue, paper bags, rubber bands, straw, foam, ribbon, pipe cleaners, tin foil, toothpicks, post-it notes, and any other craft materials that students could use to create.

Financial donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/2h36j824, which would be used to help purchase materials, supplies, storage/organization bins, and additional specialty kits and equipment.

Bennett said the goal is to raise $3,500 to jumpstart the AAK Makerspace.