What is Dublin, Ireland

The Lexicon Lab provides library visitors interested in making an introduction topics such as 3D design and printing, virtual reality, and computer programming using microcontrollers, among many other topics that arise during open meeting times. The workshops for adults are meant to encourage learners to pursue certain technologies and provide them with the confidence to get started in these areas. Located in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, the Lexicon Lab occupies around 100m2 in the impressive Lexicon Library, opened in 2014. While establishing learning communities is difficult in a space that is public and free of charge, strategies have been adopted to help learners connect and learn from each other. The space has greatly benefited from the Trinity School of Computer Science and Statistics Bridge21 model of pedagogy, brought to the lab through Jake Byrne, a consultant and Creative Technology Curator at the Lexicon Lab. In this learner-centric model, technical knowledge and skills are developed through inquiry in a social context, leading to a deep interaction with the content. While not fully implemented in the Lexicon Lab, the model provides an effective framework for teaching and learning in the makerspace. This chapter explores the Lexicon Lab.