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Innovation Lab in K-12 Education
What is an Innovation Lab?
It is a place where students can create, discover, design, engineer and build. The space inspires and nurtures discovery. It houses tools and space for students to work independently and collaboratively for classwork, stem competitions, and learning from any discipline. This allows students the chance to develop their gifts and test their skills through project-based learning.
Our Goal: is to develop an innovation lab on a pilot group of Adventist schools. We want to encourage our kids to become 21st century thinkers and learners. We propose a 21st Century thinking and learning framework as:
The 7 C’s of 21st Century Thinking in Adventist Education
Christ-centered Instruction
Communication
Collaboration & Leadership
Commitment to Service
Cross Cultural Understanding
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Creativity & Innovation
Historically it is in our DNA, that True Education, involves training young people “to be thinkers, and not mere reflector’s of other people’s thoughts” (ED12).
In order to fulfill our Educational Mission, we want to pioneer with an approach, that prepares our children and adolescents for the future, in addition to the solid academic’s they receive.
This innovation model relies heavily on a STEM approach, which many of our schools have already moved toward. The creation of a school’s own “Innovation Lab”, is where students can experience project based learning, as well as hands-on learning with the ability to create and design around their academic learning.
Innovation spaces rely heavily on:
1. Open spaces to build
2. Whiteboards and wall space where teams can visualize projects and ideas.
3. Movable tables and chairs where students can work individually and together in groups.
4. Digital displays where students can share their screen to a larger group.
5. Prototyping materials (low tech and high tech equipment). Paper/markers/office supplies to - hand & power tools/ 3 D printers/laser cutters/ Robotic applications making use of Arduino/ Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality / Laptop/Computers for student use /computer controlled devices & engravers/digital sewing machines, etc.
6. Facilitation by a teacher who can guide students through design thinking and activities that foster innovation.
The First “Innovation Lab” on a high school in North America Forest Lake Academy
To contact the Innovation lab teacher, Mr. Robert Henley: https://forestlakeacademy.org/academics_stream.php
Last June 2019, a group of 15 high school male and female students from Forest Lake Academy, were invited for a week to the first Biomechatronics Workshop, held at La Sierra University & Loma Linda University in Southern California.The students spent the majority of their time working with Loma Linda Faculty Physicians, world class researchers and staff on their innovative real world projects involving:
- Brain Control Interface
- VR Assistance for Phantom Limb Pain
- Hand Prosthetics training “game”
- Stroke Rehab product enhancement
To get further information about the vision of Florida Conference Education department, and their plan to cultivate Future Innovators see: https://floridaconference.com/media/Robotics-Innovation-Case.pdf.
Contact Frank Runnels (Superintendent of Education) at: https://www.flcoe.org
La Sierra University – School of Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction is looking: for a small group of pilot schools, who want to develop an innovation lab in a space on their school campus. We want to work together with you and develop a focus of Innovation in Seventh day Adventist Education.
If you have any questions, please email or call us.
Keith Drieberg, Ph.D – Chair of Teacher Education – La Sierra University - 909-213-3010
Enoch Hwang, Ph.D – Chair of Computer Science – La Sierra University - 951-785-2054
Contact US
education@lasierra.edu
951.785.2266
866-219-0671 (Toll Free)
951.785.2205 fax
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