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Putting Students in Charge: �Creating a Student-Led Innovation Lab

Amara Brooks ’19, Kenzie Green ’20, Bella Watson ’21, Alex Northrup, Director of Educational Technology�Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools Conference, April 16, 2018

www.foxcroft.org

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What’s coming up today

Background on Foxcroft and the “Space to Innovate Project”

Student presentation

The Innovation Lab today

Lessons learned on effective student-led projects and creating a “maker community”

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Foxcroft School

9-12 grade, Boarding and Day in Middleburg, VA, 160 students�1-to-1, BYOD School, Google Apps for Education

Our Mission: �To help every girl explore her unique voice and to develop the skills, confidence, and courage to share it with the world.

First Promise: �To create unique learning experiences in and out of the classroom.

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Student Involvement: Project Green Build

Stuart Hall Dormitory - LEED Certification�Partnerships: Hord Coplan Macht, Forrester Construction

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Student Involvement: Project Green Build

Monthly 90-minute “classes” with architects, builders; hands-on, both classroom and site

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Student Involvement: Project Rebuild

Renovation of Court Dormitory into an administrative building

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Student Involvement: Project Rebuild

Similar structure to Project Green Build

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Student Involvement: EPICS

Engineering Projects in Community Service Program - student teams work with nonprofits to design solutions to problems:

Energy use display in Stuart;

Service counter in Court store

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Student Involvement: Space to Innovate Project

Foxcroft received a generous gift to create a innovation lab

Opportunities:

Student-led project from the ground up
Foxcroft possessed much of the tech already, just not centralized

Challenges:

Master plan already called for upcoming school-building renovation
Existing space not wonderful

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Student Involvement: Space to Innovate Project

Initial steps - starting October, 2017:

Application process
Survey of those selected for interest
Formation of committees: �Executive�Budget�Technology / Equipment�Interior Design�Presentation

Executive Committee’s first task - write a mission statement

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Mission Statement

To develop a Maker Space that will inspire the community and allow all members an opportunity to design, create, and learn using hands-on approaches, both in and out of the classroom, while utilizing the newest technology.

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Hello! Today, we are here to introduce the Space to Innovate project. The Space to Innovate group is comprised of students that are dedicated to bringing a makerspace to Foxcroft. A makerspace is a creative lab that has equipment such as laser cutters, 3D printers, and woodworking equipment. Having a makerspace at Foxcroft will introduce students and teachers to the future of innovation. Career fields in computer and technology design are becoming more prevalent, and we want Foxcroft women to be prepared when they enter the workforce.

�We want all community members, students and teachers, to use this space, and experience how technology is shaping our world. Teachers will be able to incorporate the space into the classroom, creating lesson plans that feature equipment available in the makerspace. Outside of the classroom, students can use the space for school projects, Fox-Hound activities, and personal projects.

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Research

Field Trips

Conversations with Experts�

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Creative Workspace

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Steward School

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NOVA Labs

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Proposed Technology

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��How it relates to the school and having a makerspace will improve the community

Vinyl cutter will be make stencils for t shirts : in the future we can even use it to design the sophomore class sweatpants

We already have a lot of the equipment for a makerspace; 3D printer and wood working equipment

Sewing machine for fashion club and it’s a simple machine that everybody can use

The most important piece of equipment that many community members have requested is the laser cutter. A laser cutter can be used to cut through and on many materials, as can be seen here, where student Krissa Thorndike designed a Fox-Hound pin. A laser cutter will allow students to be creative, and design materials for Fox-Hound,

�Students have also expressed interest in a color printer and poster printer for classwork and class projects.

�We have also been looking at vinyl cutters that can be used in tandem with silk screen materials to make class, club, and sport shirts, as well as the sophomore sweatpants.

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Proposed Space: Conversion of Science Rooms

Existing Space:

Unused
Messy
Outdated
Uninviting

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We want for the space to be have an Industrial feel and we want to have bright lights to stimulate the look of natural lighting

Camille-We propose that the STEM Lab will turn into a collaborative space where people can work together. It also would have the capability to be used as a classroom setting. We will take out the floor tiles, leaving the concrete and taking out the ceiling tiles, exposing pipes,

Krissa- We propose that the computer lab will have computers with all the technology and programs needed to run the equipment. We are proposing to take out the floor tiles and put in new lighting.

Camille-The current teachers lounge will become a video and picture studio, with a green screen and proper lighting.

Krissa-In the animal room we propose to convert the existing space into a high tech machinery room. We plan to open up the room, paint it, and install brighter lights. As Well as take out the concrete wall that separates the room.

Say where the space is located “in the science wing in the basement of schoolhouse”

Video Recording Room - Studio/Quiet Space Not committed to having it be a Video Studio Space where you can record video and audio.

��How it relates to the school and having a makerspace will improve the community

Vinyl cutter will be make stencils for t shirts : in the future we can even use it to design the sophomore class sweatpants

We already have a lot of the equipment for a makerspace; 3D printer and wood working equipment

Sewing machine for fashion club and it’s a simple machine that everybody can use

The most important piece of equipment that many community members have requested is the laser cutter. A laser cutter can be used to cut through and on many materials, as can be seen here, where student Krissa Thorndike designed a Fox-Hound pin. A laser cutter will allow students to be creative, and design materials for Fox-Hound,

�Students have also expressed interest in a color printer and poster printer for classwork and class projects.

�We have also been looking at vinyl cutters that can be used in tandem with silk screen materials to make class, club, and sport shirts, as well as the sophomore sweatpants.

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Proposed Space: Conversion of Science Rooms

www.foxcroft.org

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How it relates to the school and having a makerspace will improve the community

Vinyl cutter will be make stencils for t shirts : in the future we can even use it to design the sophomore class sweatpants

We already have a lot of the equipment for a makerspace; 3D printer and wood working equipment

Sewing machine for fashion club and it’s a simple machine that everybody can use

The most important piece of equipment that many community members have requested is the laser cutter. A laser cutter can be used to cut through and on many materials, as can be seen here, where student Krissa Thorndike designed a Fox-Hound pin. A laser cutter will allow students to be creative, and design materials for Fox-Hound,

�Students have also expressed interest in a color printer and poster printer for classwork and class projects.

�We have also been looking at vinyl cutters that can be used in tandem with silk screen materials to make class, club, and sport shirts, as well as the sophomore sweatpants.

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Budget

Technology

50% of budget

Interior Design

Movable Items: 20%
Permanent Renovation: 10%

Supplies & Unexpected Costs

20% of budget

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Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

Paying for supplies
Training students and faculty
Marketing the space �

Opportunities

Technologies
Class Projects
Collaborative Space�

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The Innovation Lab

October 17, 2017: The Innovation Lab is officially dedicated!

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The Innovation Lab

October 17, 2017: The Innovation Lab is officially dedicated!

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Student Perspectives on Student Involvement

Benefits:

By Students, For Students
Leadership Opportunities
Business Experience

�Challenges:

Finding Time to Meet
Continually Motivating the Team

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Recommendations:

Test out Technology
Define the Project Early On

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Faculty Perspectives on Student Involvement

Benefits:

Authentic collaborative project learning by using “21st Century Skills”
Ownership, experts for the new space
Process, iteration, leads to better result!

Challenges:

Time (for students, faculty) - for meetings, travel, communication

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Recommendations:

Clear decision-making parameters
Clear calendar with meeting / work time
“Contract” with student team

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Creating a Maker Community: Faculty View

Build faculty interest and participation

Activities oriented to student interests

Make space open and welcoming

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Creating a Maker Community: Student View

Benefits:

Workspace for class assignments and projects
Opportunities for student creativity
Builds confidence and skill for the workplace

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Recommendations:

Student input
Provide activities for students
Build interest in the space
Encourage teachers to become involved

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As a new student this year at Foxcroft school, I wasn’t a part of the original Innovation lab team. However, I was able to provide a fresh perspective for the space and also provide new suggestions for improvement. As a student, I am able to experience firsthand how much student involvement is important for the success of a Makerspace. It is crucial to include students in the process, and also listen to student input. Also, in order to create a community of makers, it is important to host activities that students are interested in. Over the last few months, our Innovation lab has held t-shirt printing sessions, jewelry making workshops, and even laser cutter pumpkin engraving. Providing these activities is a great way to build interest in the space and get students involved. Not only is it important to get students involved, but also teachers. Our Innovation Lab has been used by many different classes for projects and assignments. Already, I have used the Innovation lab for two different projects. In my Literature class, we were recently studying mythology. For our unit project, we had to create an artifact that represented a myth that we had studied. Students used everything from the laser cutter, clay, and even the 3d printer for their projects.

All of these factors Having such a community provides many opportunities for students to express their creativity and also develop skills that will be valuable once they enter the workplace. Nowadays, most jobs are in technology, so having experience and also interest with different technologies greatly helps students’ success. Overall, a makerspace is a valuable addition to a school, and benefits students and teachers alike.

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Innovation Lab Projects

Classes such as Expository Writing, World Cultures, Physics, French and Biology have utilized the Innovation Lab for projects.

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Innovation Lab Projects

Students and faculty have also used the lab for �personal projects, extracurricular activities, �even Admission Open Houses.

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Thank you for coming!

More information:

Contact alex.northrup@foxcroft.org

or

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