Finland has its very own version of a “makerspace”: crafts class.
Originally one for boys and one for girls. Later for different
materials, especially for wood and textile, that are deep-rooted
concepts in Finnish mindset about crafts. To get crafts class back for
pupils, makers, mindset for collaboration, pupil’s different interests,
and sharing is in search. Craft is a compulsory learning-by-doing
subject for pupils in grades one to seven. The activities are based on
craft expression, design and technology (CDT). This research is part of
national endeavours to develop innovative CDT as a basic education
subject. This paper explores two case studies in which technical work
and textile work teachers taught together in a shared learning
environment, rather than in traditionally separate learning environments
divided into soft and hard materials. The aim is to develop criteria
for a new kind of learning environment that would promote innovation
learning in pedagogical innovation processes. The first study used a
mixed methods approach, including systematic observation, inquiry and
pair interviews of five co-teaching teams in primary school, to test the
new teaching culture. The second study used an experience sampling
method in the form of a mobile application to reveal various parts of
pupils' design and making processes in the school setting. The key
finding is that collaborative teams can support teachers’ and pupils’
innovation learning activities when the work is supported by shared
spaces, practices, and new tools. Preconditions for students’
pedagogical innovation process enhancing makerspaces in the context of
formal comprehensive education are discussed in relation to learning
outcomes, traditional workshops, learner differences and pedagogical
innovation process