“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.”
– Abraham Maslow
It is with great excitement that we announce the newest addition to our learning programs: Creator Labs. Creator Labs aim to unleash children’s potential by allowing them to develop their unique learning paths through play.
What is a Creator Lab?
A Creator Lab is a 2-hour open session during which children and teens (Ages 9-14) are invited to the Explorations Learning Lab to use our equipment and materials to develop their personal projects.
Sessions are not tied to any specific learning outcomes, nor are they taught by a teacher. Rather, teachers and assistants are guides to learners, as they explore various topics and projects.
A Creator Lab is an unstructured learning experience that aims to enable the participant’s innate love of learning. It is a place to play with learning.
Why Creator Labs?
At the heart of Explorations is the belief that learning is fun. In a world of classrooms, tests, learning outcomes and entrance exams, we stand as an environment where both teachers and children are free to explore questions and topics without the constraints of traditional school systems.
Moreover, countless studies have supported the importance of play. Not only does play promote motivation and mastery, but it also builds confidence and resiliency. In many ways, play builds the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
By giving children access to Explorations resources in a free, unstructured setting, we will be able to help foster a love for learning and a passion for problem-solving. Furthermore, through these activities, we will be able to help children develop new friendships and interests.
What type of projects will my child do?
One of the great things about these sessions is that there is no way to answer that question. The teachers and assistants that are on hand during the Creator Labs are there to guide the children and ensure their safety.
It may be that your child decides to design a video game and explore the world of storytelling and programming. Or perhaps they will try their hand at developing videos using our Youtubing station. They may decide to build a pinball machine using our tools and material, or maybe they would prefer to work on a graphic novel with some other learners. In the end, they may decide to keep their work or to dispose of it. It’s completely up to them.
With this in mind, each Lab will begin with a short workshop about some of the equipment the learners may choose to use. These workshops are completely optional but may encourage some participants to seek out new topics or projects.
How can I learn more?
Creator Labs are offered every Monday and Thursday, beginning November 4th, from 4 pm to 6 pm. For more information or to register for a November session, please visit the Creator Lab page.
