Module 11 Post

MakerSpace Tool: IDEO Method Cards

 The Tool:

 I first learned about IDEO Method Cards from this post on the Worlds of Learning blog about the "Top Ten Makerspace Favorites of 2018."

Here is the description from that blog post about IDEO Method Cards that first got me hooked:
"These cards are low-tech and offer 51 ways to inspire design, while keeping human at the center of the process, the whole time. Each card describes one method and includes a brief story about how and when to use it. These cards are not a 'how to' guide. They are a design tool meant to help you explore new approaches and develop your own."
 More information about Method Cards can be found here on IDEO's website.

I wanted to see more examples of the Method Cards in action, so I began looking for more images and stories about their uses. Here are some examples:

Siddhartha Banerjee on Twitter: "Just unboxed @IDEO Method Cards ...
From a Twitter post by Siddhartha Banerjee
Image result for ideo method cards | Inspirational cards, Ideo, Cards
From Betsy Freeman's Pinterest
What I love about Method Cards is that they offer processes and, well, methods to prompt users to think critically and find inspiration for a project they're working on!

The Benefits:
  • They are a multi-use resource that can be used again and again, justifying the one-time $49 price tag
  • They are a low-tech addition to a makerspace that does not require any special tools or training
  • The set includes 51 cards, which offers a lot of variety
  • They promote critical thinking and original ideas
  • They offer strategies and processes for working through a problem or improving an idea
The Rationale:

Let's talk about why these Method Cards are a great addition to our school library's makerspace as well as makerspaces throughout our community!

In the article "School Library Makerspaces," librarian Ana Canino-Fluit describes the significance and purpose of makerspaces in a school library setting. As she describes, makerspaces are not the same thing as craft spaces or simply a supply of resources; making is about inquiry and problem-solving. She continues on to say that "Makers are problem solvers, idea dreamers; ... they see a problem, something that isn't working for them, and they research ways to solve the problem and experiment, pushing the limits until they are satisfied" (Canino-Fluit, 2014, par. 4).

If makerspaces are fundamentally about creative thinking and problem-solving, then shouldn't we be providing the users of our makerspace with tools to jumpstart that process? It is not enough to provide crafting supplies and materials; we must also help students solve problems by providing them with methods and strategies to get them started. The Method Cards offer new ways of thinking about a problem or product that students may not have previously considered, leading them to new perspectives and solutions.

Additionally, it is important to remember that not everything introduced into a makerspace needs to be the newest, highest-tech tool available. In this blog post titled "Create an Amazing Low-tech Library Makerspace With These Easy Ideas," Heather Lister reminds us of this fact. She notes that "With the massive amount of information out there about makerspaces, somewhere along the way, the term 'maker' became synonymous with words like '3-D printing' and 'robots'," but she calls this a misconception (Lister, 2016, par. 2).

Lister is exactly right! Makerspace users can accomplish amazing things without the fanciest technology available, as long as they have the right environment and motivation to do so. Method Cards provide an essential jumping-off point for users to get them started without breaking the bank or requiring expensive equipment or special training before users can move forward.

I hope we see the use of Method Cards and similar tools to get our users thinking outside the box!



Canino-Fluit, A. (2014). School library makerspaces. Teacher Librarian, 41(5), 21.

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