George Lucas Educational Foundation

Fostering Self-Directed Learning in Makerspaces

When students have the freedom to tinker and explore, their curiosity leads to perseverance—and the mastery of technical tools and skills.

February 28, 2024

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In a small, rural Kentucky town, school leaders at Eminence Independent Schools prioritized their spending to invest in a state-of-the-art makerspace called the EDhub, where students from all grade levels would have opportunities to spend time each week. The outcome went far beyond cool tools and technical training—it sparked student enthusiasm and built a culture of exploration. From button-making to 3D printing, laser cutting to video editing, students choose a tool they want to explore and earn a badge once they achieve mastery. As a result of this interest-based approach, teachers have seen a lift in students leading their own learning beyond the EDhub.

To learn more about how the school funded and built the EDhub, read “A Small Town School Embraces a Big Vision.”

Schools That Work

Eminence Independent Schools

Public, Rural

Grades K–12

Eminence, KY

The Eminence Independent Schools district was failing less than a decade ago. Enrollment was declining, and test scores and morale were plummeting in the small, rural, Title 1 district in Eminence, Kentucky. To save the district and the town, Buddy Berry, the superintendent, initiated sweeping changes that were identified by the students themselves.

With community buy-in, the district built a 30,000-square-foot technology-focused building with eight makerspaces to foster personalized learning, made time for students to design and solve real-world problems, and developed an early college program to prepare students for college. The district also adopted a “surprise and delight” culture—focusing on ways to boost student and staff morale. The district’s efforts paid off: Graduation rates and college persistence rates have increased, and enrollment has doubled.

Achieved 100% College and/or Career Readiness by Kentucky state standards for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
99.5% of early college program participants are either on track to earn a college degree or have already done so.
Selected to attend the 2014 ConnectED to the Future Convening at the White House.