The Makerspaces in Primary School Settings project was a research collaboration between three education-based organisations investigating makerspaces in Kindergarten to Year 2 (K-2) settings. Makers Empire – an Australian-based education technology company behind the development a 3D design and printing platform – provided a blended professional learning program to teachers from three NSW Department of Education primary schools in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area. Participating teachers and their students were also given access to the company’s 3D design software (the Makers Empire 3D app), which was installed on school-provided iPads and used with newly-purchased 3D printers. Teachers designed and delivered units of work in the Makers Empire Teacher Dashboard, integrating both offline

maker activities with physical materials, and online activities with the available technologies. Throughout the professional learning program, learning implementation, and post-implementation evaluation, a research team from Macquarie University examined teachers’ and students’ participation and perceptions to address 6 research questions:

Nine data sources were analysed and triangulated in order to address the research questions, including (1) a pre-professional learning questionnaire; (2) researcher observations of professional learning; (3) a post- professional learning questionnaire; (4) researcher observations of lessons; (5) recordings of student iPad activity and discussions; (6) teacher reflective journals; (7) student focus group interviews; (8) teacher focus group interviews; and (9) a post-implementation questionnaire. The Makerspaces in Primary School Settings report details the context, methods, analysis, and results of the study. The report is available in two forms – a full report, and an abridged version that only contains the abstract and executive summary.

Carlingford West Public School, Oatlands Public School and Parramatta East Public School are NSW Department of Education schools that participate in a collaborative hub. Their hub school network is designed to lead and disseminate innovation within the school system. All three schools had an executive team that was ready to lead innovation and change, along with staff who volunteered to participate in the project. The campus for each school was equipped with access to the NSW Department of Education Wi- Fi network, and had sets of iPads that could be shared amongst students and classes for the purposes of the study.

Makers Empire is an Australian-based education technology company that helps K-8 educators harness the power of 3D technology to teach STEM concepts, design thinking and 21st century learning skills. Makers Empire 3D for Schools is a 3D design and printing platform that comprises the Makers Empire 3D app and Makers Empire Teacher Dashboard for class management and access to curriculum. Makers Empire also offers a 20-hour Learning by Design blended professional learning program that supports teachers to integrate 3D technology using pedagogies that develop and enhance students’ critical, creative, design thinking and STEM skills. The Makers Empire 3D app is used by hundreds of thousands of students in Australia, America, Asia and Europe every day. Given their common interests in understanding how pedagogically optimise 3D design and printing activities in schools, the two entities partnered together in this research project.