Have you ever walked up to a makerspace, peeked inside, and then just… kept walking? You’re not alone. That moment at the doorstep,  that split-second decision to enter or walk away is exactly what the EITM Lab has been researching for years. And now, we’re turning those findings into something anyone can use.

Say hello to the Inclusive Makerspace Toolkit.

The Inclusive Makerspace Toolkit is an open educational resource (we’ll just call it the Toolkit!) being developed right here at the EITM Lab. It’s designed to help makerspace educators, administrators, and staff create spaces that feel genuinely welcoming to everyone.

The Toolkit is organized into five modules:

• Module 1: Read the Room; explores how the physical details of a makerspace, from wall color to the projects on display, send powerful signals about who the space is for.
• Module 2: At the Threshold; zooms in on that doorstep moment and what shapes a student’s decision to walk in or walk away.
• Module 3: Let the Room Do the Work;  examines how thoughtful design choices can communicate inclusion without requiring any direct intervention.
• Module 4: Same Space, Different Signal; shows side-by-side what changes when a makerspace is intentionally redesigned with equity in mind.
• Module 5: From First Visit to Maker Identity; looks beyond the threshold to ask how makerspaces can keep students coming back and support them in developing a genuine maker identity.

Now, a quick introduction.

We’re excited to welcome a new addition to the EITM Lab team this summer;  say hello to Punya Aragula!

Punya is a rising second-year PhD student in the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hil.. Her research sits at the intersection of participatory research, responsible technology, and the social impacts of emerging technologies. She’s drawn to qualitative and mixed-methods approaches that center care, curiosity, and lived experience.

Punya will be contributing to the development of the Inclusive Makerspace Toolkit this summer, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board. The lab’s work aligns closely with her own research interests, particularly the idea that the spaces we design say a lot about the communities we value. We’re looking forward to all that she’ll bring to the team! 

Stay tuned for more updates as the Toolkit takes shape!