Supporting Educator Reflection and Agency Through the Co-Design of Observation Tools and Practices for Informal Learning Environments

Spaces for youth to create what they imagine, such as makerspaces and learning labs, are proliferating
in community centers, libraries, schools, and museums. There is still much to learn about how to document what happens in these spaces, especially in ways that can support educators in design and practice. In this paper, we share exploratory design-based research investigating how making and learning practices are identified and interpreted by educators working in library spaces connecting teens to tools, mentorship, and support for creative production. First, we share how researchers and educators co-designed observation tools, building on existing frameworks of learning practices involved in making activities. Second, emergent themes from co-design activities are presented, including the importance of organizational history and shifting perceptions about evaluation and data collection as opportunities for professional learning and advocacy. Finally, implications and future work are discussed.