Author Archives
Diana Rendina, MLIS, is the media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school. She was previously the media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School for seven years, where she founded their library makerspace. She is the creator of the blog RenovatedLearning.com & is also a monthly contributor to AASL Knowledge Quest. Diana is the winner of the 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator Award, the 2015 ISTE Librarians Network Award, the 2015 AASL Frances Henne Award & the 2015 SLJ Build Something Bold Award. She is an international speaker on the Maker Movement and learning space design and has presented at conferences including AASL, FETC & ISTE. Diana co-authored Challenge-Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace and is the author of Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget.
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What You Really Need to Create a Makerspace
I’ve been on this MakerEd journey since late 2013. Since then, I’ve seen the movement change dramatically. What started out as a few educators tinkering with the idea of hands-on activities that promote creativity and allow an avenue for students… Read More ›
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How to Get Ready for a New Year at Your New School
This August, I’ll be the new media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school in downtown Tampa. This will be my first time in seven years at a new (to-me) school. Needless to say, I’m both excited and anxious… Read More ›
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How to Make a Game Plan for Your Next Conference
Are you off to ISTE, ALA, or another major conference in the next few months? Congratulations! Going to a national conference can be exciting and thrilling. Unfortunately, it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. I’ve been to ISTE three times,… Read More ›
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Why You Should Weed More Than Just Books at the End of the Year
At the end of my first year at Stewart Middle Magnet School, I ended up with a great opportunity. We replaced an aging air conditioning system over the summer, meaning that ALL the furniture had to be moved into the… Read More ›
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How to Create a More Flexible Seating Environment
I recently had two very different airport experiences that got me thinking about the impact of flexible seating in learning environments. I was flying back home after speaking to a group of librarians in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Edmonton International… Read More ›
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How to Build a Maker Culture in Your Library
School libraries are starting makerspaces all over the world. It’s an exciting time in education as we rediscover the power of creativity. But many schools rush to start makerspaces so quickly that they neglect building the maker culture. Developing a… Read More ›
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6 Amazing Books to Inspire Your Library Space Design
Last year, I wrote a post on five of my favorite makerspace books for school librarians. One of my other favorite topics to research is library and learning space design, so this post will focus on that topic. I’m currently working… Read More ›
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3 Reasons Why Making and Literacy Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
After my post last month on Why a Makerspace Isn’t a Magic Cure-all For Your Problems, the conversation in social media took off. I noticed that some in the conversation felt that they couldn’t coordinate literacy programs and makerspace programs. Others… Read More ›
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Why a Makerspace Is Not a Magic Cure-All for Your Problems
I realize that this title is going so upset some people. That some might accuse me of click-bait. But I think this is a topic that is often being left out in the discussion about makerspaces. Many school librarians… Read More ›
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3 Reasons Why You Need to Attend Your State Conference
The very first conference I ever attended was my state conference, FAME (Florida Association for Media in Education) back in 2010. I was a brand new librarian and soaked up all the new information, ideas, and connections. It only… Read More ›