Research Guides: XR and Makertool Space: Makertools for Faculty

Librarians are happy to partner with you to include the use of Makertools in your class session.

Please contact Lauren Gaeth, Associate Director of Research & Instruction, at gaeth@uhcl.edu to see the types of library information literacy sessions available.

Makertools offer many benefits to student learning and success, including:

Communication skills
Collaboration
Problem-solving skills
Hands-on learning
Critical thinking
Creativity and curiosity

Makertools

Makertool	Tool Description	How to Use
Snap Circuits	A hands-on electronics kit with snap-together components like resistors, switches, motors, and lights to create simple circuits.	Students can build working models of electronic circuits to learn how electricity flows and how components like switches and resisters work together.
Cubelets Discovery Set	Modular magnetic robotic blocks with built-in sensors, logic, and action. Each block has a unique function.	Students can snap blocks together to build simple robots without programming, exploring logic, cause-and-effect, and basic robotics principles.
Makey Makey Classic	An invention kit that turns everyday objects (like bananas or foil) into touchpads by completing circuits using alligator clips and USB.	Students can create interactive projects by connecting the Makey Makey to computers and using objects as buttons, learning about conductivity and coding.
LegoBricQ	A Lego stem set focused on physics concepts such as force and motion without electronics.	Students can build models like catapults or race cars to understand motion, gravity, and balance through experimentation.
Strawbees Imagination Kit	A creative building system using colorful straws and connectors to build geometric structures and moving parts.	Students can design and build prototype structures, bridges, or mechanical arms, fostering creativity, engineering, and teamwork skills.
K'Nex	Interlocking plastic rods, connectors, and gears for building mechanical models like vehicles, machines, and architectural structures.	Students can create models that demonstrate physics and engineering concept like tension, rotation, and gear mechanisms.
Makedo Tools	A set of tools designed for cutting, folding, and connecting cardboard to build anything from houses to robots.	Students can engineer large-scale prototypes or structures using recycled cardboard, developing design thinking and sustainability awareness.
Invitation to Draw	A set of prompt cards that spark creativity and imaginative drawing exercises.	Students can use the prompts for free drawing, storytelling, or journal entries, encouraging visual thinking and open-ended creativity.