In the SmartLab, we don't have ASSIGNMENTS, we have LEARNING ENGAGEMENTS...

Our middle school students are wrapping up their first learning engagements, and the work they are doing is absolutely phenomenal!!! We have Photoshop, snap circuitry, K'Nex, solar-powered cars, video game design, and clay animation taking place in our Lab, as well as many other projects. A big part of the learning engagement is the ePortfolio that students are responsible for. From day one, students in the SmartLab have had to keep a digital journal, recording and documenting their work in the Lab. This accountability piece is important to me, as the facilitator, because it shows the process of the projects, and requires students to explain their work, in detailed writing.

Elementary students are finishing up their Orientations this week, and next week I will have fifth graders begin their first learning engagement. For elementary students, they will get the opportunity to work on three learning engagements this year, which include LEGO WeDo, Snap Circuits, Vernier sensors, K'Nex, and Code.org. 

Before opening the SmartLab at Stuart Mesa, I debated going through a detailed orientation or just jumping in to the Learning Launches. I chose to go through the orientation with every student that visits the Lab. Now, that I see how smoothly things are running, I am sooo glad that I chose to open the lab with the orientation. The Learners in the Lab are totally rocking the STEM projects that they are working on, and the Facilitator (me) is loving it!