The University of Jamestown’s newly installed SmartLab is bringing STEM education into the mix of their Teacher Education Department. As a required course, future teachers become fully certified STEM lab facilitators, something they can boast on their resume after graduation. In an interview with Dr. Leann Nelson, the Teacher Education Department chair, says that none of these future teachers will “teach” in the STEM lab, they allow the students to take responsibility of their next generation learning. Nelson says, “the SmartLab is where students explore STEM and media arts through applied technology and project-based learning”. Nelson further explains how the students can develop something in a fully integrated learning environment that includes furniture, technology, curriculum and assessment to support hands on and minds on learning with up to date technology. Nelson says there is a growing need for technology education.
“Twenty-five years ago, computer class consisted of not much more than typing practice and playing Oregon Trail. Today, students are programming robots, making movies, building cars, composing ringtones and a lot more in SmartLab.”
Read MoreGrady Independent School District (ISD) is in the rural community of Lenore Texas, about 30 miles from Midland. Thanks to a generous grant from oil and gas exploration company QEP Resources, Grady ISD students can now explore exciting career pathways in STEM.
Read MorePS 201Q, the Discovery School for Inquiry and Research, was in the news with the official ribbon cutting of their new STEAM SmartLab. The SmartLab, along with a Student Broadcast Studio from Creative Learning Systems was funded through a $400,000 allocation by city councilman Rory Lancman along with money from the Magnet Schools Assistance Program.
Read MoreImmanuel Lutheran School (TN) continues to do a fantastic job building public interest in their new SmartLab (launching this fall).
Read MoreWhat goes on in a SmartLab? The Slavens K-8 (Denver, CO) STEM lab website offers a terrific glimpse. Check it out!
Read MoreEarlier this week, we posted a WTVA news video about the new SmartLab in Columbus High School in Mississippi. Here's another great news article about the program from The Dispatch.
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