Coed, independent, PK3-12th grade school in St. Petersburg, Florida.
727-522-2111
Our Libraries, Technology Centers and Makerspace
The Haskell Library and Technology Center is housed in Charger Commons on the first floor, and opened in March 2019. Inside are picture books, juvenile fiction and nonfiction, and many chapter book series. There is a story time area where Lower School students meet with Mrs. Smay and other guest readers.
In the adjacent Technology Center, students work with Ms. Deegan on software skills, classroom projects, robotic manipulatives and more.
A new library to be utilized primarily by Middle and Upper School students will open by September 2021. It will be located on the second floor of Charger Commons.
Adjacent to this Library will be a robotics workshop and open Makerspace.
In the adjacent Technology Center, students work with Ms. Deegan on software skills, classroom projects, robotic manipulatives and more.
The Lower School Library hours match the Lower School academic schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:10 - 3:00pm. When the school is closed for weekends and holidays, the library is also closed.
A new library to be utilized primarily by Middle and Upper School students will open by September 2021. It will be located on the second floor of Charger Commons.
Adjacent to this Library will be a robotics workshop and open Makerspace.
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Design thinking and problem solving -
New Lower School library -
Technology Center
Our MakerSpace - First of its Kind!
The first Makerspace was introduced on the Shorecrest campus in 2014. The idea of learning through hands-on production had libraries nationwide constructing Makerspaces, and Shorecrest was the first local independent school to add one.
Trend analysts, business writers, and educational leaders are discussing the need for educational institutions to foster ingenuity with strong technological skills (STEAM skills) to succeed in our rapidly changing world. This dynamic learning environment encourages innovation, process, effort, strategy, progress and problem solving skills.
Lower School students have designed 3D logos and tinkered with electronics through electronic littleBits toys. Middle School students have integrated art, math, and technology by printing 3D tessellations. Upper School students have designed conceptual models of calculus theories and chemical bonds, and one student created a roving cell phone drone.
Trend analysts, business writers, and educational leaders are discussing the need for educational institutions to foster ingenuity with strong technological skills (STEAM skills) to succeed in our rapidly changing world. This dynamic learning environment encourages innovation, process, effort, strategy, progress and problem solving skills.
Lower School students have designed 3D logos and tinkered with electronics through electronic littleBits toys. Middle School students have integrated art, math, and technology by printing 3D tessellations. Upper School students have designed conceptual models of calculus theories and chemical bonds, and one student created a roving cell phone drone.
Our Makerspace includes:
- 3D printers
- Cutting machines
- Building materials (cardboard, clay, styrofoam, etc.)
- Crafting tools (hot glue guns, scissors, etc.)
- Maker-specific books
- Access to computer lab with design software
- Electronics and robotics: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Sphero BOLT, Chibitronics
- A dry erase collaboration table
Why is “Making” crucial in helping students learn?
We want students to have 21st Century skills, become problem solvers and independent thinkers, as well as practice using the skills they learn to cement what is presented in the classroom.
Brain research shows that children who do first, and then watch a video or read a textbook, perform better on tests and remember what they learned better than students who are presented with material in the reverse learning order. Plus kids who “make” are proven to be quicker to apply knowledge gained by making real things than students who just learn about something passively. Our Makerspace is not only cutting edge, it is going to give our students an edge in the 21st century job market!
We want students to have 21st Century skills, become problem solvers and independent thinkers, as well as practice using the skills they learn to cement what is presented in the classroom.
Brain research shows that children who do first, and then watch a video or read a textbook, perform better on tests and remember what they learned better than students who are presented with material in the reverse learning order. Plus kids who “make” are proven to be quicker to apply knowledge gained by making real things than students who just learn about something passively. Our Makerspace is not only cutting edge, it is going to give our students an edge in the 21st century job market!
List of 3 items.
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Our Makerspace in the Press
- Bay News 9 Visits the Shorecrest Makerspace [video]
- Teacher-Librarian Journal: https://drive.google.com/a/shorecrest.org/file/d/0B1eDsGu87xAramxrY0NzM3pUUnM/view
- Tampa Bay Partnership: Educating Innovators - Shorecrest Library Creates a Makerspace
- SAIS: A Maker Movement
- AISL: Inviting Creative Experts to the Library Mix
- AISL: Makerspaces Going Mainstream in Libraries
- AISL: Design Thinking in the Library
- AISL: Resources for your Makerspace
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Presentations on Innovation & Libraries
March 29-31, 2016 - Catholic Library Association Convention and National Catholic Educational Association Conference - in San Diego, CAJanuary 29, 2016 - Marion County mini-conference for teachers, librarians, art, music & dance/dramaDecember 3-5, 2015 - NAIS People of Color Conference in Tampa, FL, "Maker Movement: Let's Do It!" Dottie Smay, Nicole St. Amand, Anna Baralt and Courtney WalkerDottie Smay and Courtney Walker co-presented with Diana Rendina. October 21, 2015.Dottie Smay at SXSWedu discussing Makerspaces here (with video) and in this article from TeachThought.Hosts and Presenters Dottie Smay and Courtney Walker. March 15, 2015.Presented by Dottie Smay and Courtney Walker. November 20, 2014.Presented by Courtney Walker. June 28th, 2014.Presented by Dottie Smay and Courtney Walker. June 19, 2014Presented by Dottie Smay and Nicole St. Amand. November 6, 2014Presented by Dottie Smay and Courtney Walker. Oct 25, 2014 -
The White House and Maker Faires
"A Nation Of Makers", on whitehouse.gov.
Dottie Smay
dsmay@shorecrest.org
Mrs. Smay has been the Lower School Media Specialist for over 30 years at Shorecrest. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Library Science from Rowan (Glassboro) University. She was a Language Arts teacher for grades 5-8 and a media specialist for 6 years for Hillsborough county prior to coming to Shorecrest. Mrs. Smay is responsible for the children's area and helps students find enjoyable books. She supervises story time, where children learn a variety of important lessons.
Dottie has presented about Makerspaces and making-to-learn with project based learning at the Florida Council of Independent Schools 21st Century Learning Academy (FCIS) and at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GAETC).
dsmay@shorecrest.org
Mrs. Smay has been the Lower School Media Specialist for over 30 years at Shorecrest. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Library Science from Rowan (Glassboro) University. She was a Language Arts teacher for grades 5-8 and a media specialist for 6 years for Hillsborough county prior to coming to Shorecrest. Mrs. Smay is responsible for the children's area and helps students find enjoyable books. She supervises story time, where children learn a variety of important lessons.
Dottie has presented about Makerspaces and making-to-learn with project based learning at the Florida Council of Independent Schools 21st Century Learning Academy (FCIS) and at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference (GAETC).
Related News
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Library Volunteer Training
Do you want to volunteer in the Charger Commons Library this year but haven't been able to attend a training session? An additional training session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 at 10am and Thursday, September 19 at 8:15am. Learn the layout of the new library and our new circulation program!Read More -
Dr. McLemore Joins Google Certified Innovator Program
The Google for Education Team and Shorecrest Preparatory School would like to celebrate Dr. Caitlin McLemore, Shorecrest’s Middle and Upper School Librarian and Technology Specialist. Caitlin was recently accepted into the Google for Education Certified Innovator program through a highly competitive process.Read More -
Dr. Baralt awarded 2019 Elizabeth Samuelson Community Spirit Award
The Elizabeth Samuelson Community Spirit Award was initiated in 2018 in honor of Elizabeth Samuelson, who during her time as a parent and Trustee at Shorecrest engaged in every possible volunteer activity, modeled inclusivity and was a magnet for attracting others to be involved in the Shorecrest Community. The award acknowledges the importance of community building and the positive energy and impact an individual can bring to a school. The recipient for 2019 is a unanimous choice by the four School Heads and Headmaster. She has supported students, teachers and families on every inch of our campus and beyond.Read More -
Shorecrest Named Apple Distinguished School
Shorecrest is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2016–2018 for its innovative teacher-leaders, its successful 1:1 iPad Program implementation, and the thoughtful integration of technology throughout its PK-12 program.Read More -
Hour of Code
The Hour of CodeTM is a global movement reaching over 100 million students in over 180 countries. This year, Shorecrest celebrated computer science from Dec. 5-9. Students coded with their classes through a variety of activities. Parents came to Code With Your Kid, and Grandparents learned about Bee-Bots.Read More -
Makers Club Marble Mazes
The after school Monday Maker Club members were challenged to design a marble maze. They all received the same materials to use.Read More -
After Comet Ping Pong and Pizzagate, teachers tackle fake news
Courtney Walker, a media specialist in the library at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Fla., developed an entire lesson around made-up news. She had ninth-graders read articles on the Internet and identify if they came from real or fake news sources. Some of the links she included directed students to websites that are designed to look like mainstream news sources — lifting their logos and mimicking their Web addresses — but which peddle fake information. She co-taught the lesson with a history teacher, who opened the class by talking about what happened at Comet Ping Pong.Read More -
Zoomorphic Sculptures
Zoomorphic sculptures from Mr. Sober's Upper School 3D Design art classes are on display in the Media Center. They will also be in the library at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year as inspiration for spin-off projects and collaborations.Read More
Shorecrest Preparatory School
5101 First Street Northeast
St Petersburg, FL 33703
Phone: (727) 522-2111 | Fax: (727) 527-4191
[Map]
Privacy Policy | Faculty | Facilities Rental
St Petersburg, FL 33703
Phone: (727) 522-2111 | Fax: (727) 527-4191
[Map]
Privacy Policy | Faculty | Facilities Rental
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Shorecrest Preparatory School is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students preschool through high school, located in St. Petersburg, Florida.