There is a joy, excitement, and learning that comes from working on something we care deeply about – and the Creator Labs are designed to give students that experience.
In Creator Labs, children propose their own projects. At first, it may be vague. But our Lab Leader, an experienced teacher, will then work with them to hone their proposal into something more concrete. For example, a student may say this: “I want to make a fast robot.” After receiving guidance and input from their Lab Leader, they can expand their idea into a clear goal that can be achieved throughout their time at the Creator Lab. And now, we have: “I want to make a robotic car that travels between two points as quickly as possible.”
From that proposal, the Lab Leader creates a Project Plan for the student – a detailed map of what they will need to do and the things they will have to learn along the way in order to reach their goal. The Learning Targets – landmarks along the roadmap used to measure progress – can include both technical and academic outcomes. As we spend more time with Learners, we also include Personal Growth Goals in the Project Plan roadmap such as communicating effectively, organizing your work, time management, etc.
The best part about a Creator Lab is the energy. By bringing together curious young minds and empowering them to pursue their interests to the fullest, we get amazing cooperation, interesting discussions, and tons of laughs. Wild projects and out-of-the-box ideas lead to unique learning experiences that could never happen in more rigidly structured settings. Creator Labs have given us a chance to accomplish something we never could in a classroom: for each child to have a project that ignites their curiosity, builds new connections, grows their confidence, and develops their love of learning.
Creator Labs are hosted at the Explorations Learning Lab – 6591 Somerled, Montreal, Quebec. For more information or to register, please visit our Registration Page.
