Educators visit Hamilton County eLabs as STEM expansion enters planning phase
The leadership teams from South Side and Liberty Tech traveled with Dr. Teresa McSweeney, JMCSS Chief Innovation Officer, to Hamilton County, home of the world’s largest concentration of Fab Labs, to see the creative work being done by students.
“As we build out our innovation spaces, both at Malesus and on individual campuses, it’s important for us to have context around designs other districts have implemented. Our teachers gain inspiration and new ideas from these trips,” Dr. McSweeney said.
Because Hamilton County is recognized by the Fab Foundation as the world’s largest concentration of Fab Labs (educational labs that allow more students to experience hands-on learning, digital fabrication, and problem-solving using design thinking), district and school representatives toured four different Hamilton County Fab Lab schools, including the eLab collaboration with Volkswagen.
“With a significant concentration of automotive industries within Madison County and this region, duplicating a similar partnership with Toyota TN and Ford BlueOval is a very real possibility. Either way, it’s an exciting indicator of what is to come,” said Melissa Spurgeon, Chief of Staff.
The visit with Hamilton County will help pave the way for developing the STEM-driven centers in select schools where students will Lead, Innovate, Network, and Create in spaces called “The Linc.” These spaces will link classroom learning to a number of career skills. The libraries of select Jackson-Madison County middle and high schools, as well as Malesus, will be transformed into innovative, modern learning centers as part of the JMCSS Innovative School Model Grant.
“Seeing innovative spaces that are already established and providing next-level opportunities for student creativity, collaboration and problem-solving really helps us visualize how our learning spaces could be and what technology is optimal for our respective student age groups,” said Liberty Principal Jennifer Ballard. “It’s truly revolutionary and inspirational!”
