Design Lab insitu
Wowie Zowie This week’s class topic is ‘Innovation in Education’. Describe the SD#5 Design Lab. How does it fit in with ‘Innovation in Education’? What stood out to you? Which activities did you choose to do? How do you envision using this space with a class? What sort of project would you choose to do?
The way I would describe the Design lab as a combination of traditional and innovative. Entering, it feels very much like a middle school classroom, but upon further investigation, it is evident that this classroom has a lot of features that differentiate it from the normal class. The first thing that caught my eye were the gadgets around the classroom, “Moxie” The AI. was a robot that we later messed around with that sparked my attention, and as an avid LEGO fan, it was super exciting to see the “BattleBots” and the lego sets around the class. There was a newer generation of SMART boards at the front of the class, and the traditional desks were replaced with whiteboard desks and stools. To the side of the class, there were even more pieces of technology, such as iPads, VR headsets, and 3D headsets. In the backroom of the class, there was a greenscreen, and a laser cutter, which I had never seen before. Overall, not to sound cliche, but the classroom felt like it had a feeling of excitement and possibility. There was so much to do, and so much to work with. My teacher brain was going wild the entire thinking of class concepts and ideas I would integrate into my classroom, I really hope I am able to access a space like this to utilize it to its maximum capabilities.
What did I participate in?
In the classroom, I felt like I was spread a bit thin. I was able to participate in creating a Game on the iPad with Krista, which was super fun. I ended up creating a fun game that ran pretty well, I had to tweak it a little bit, but it ended up being a fun partner game, where the character would play Spikeball. I also was able to spend a bit of time messing around with the LEGO, I was able to make a semi workable car, but I ran out of time before I was able to integrate a motor or any moving parts.
