Creative Learning Lab

What Is the Nativity Creative Learning Lab?

Our Creative Learning Lab teachers use STEAM tools and tactics to help K-8 students focus on how to be respectful collaborators, how to problem solve and trouble shoot with perseverance, and how to emphasize real world impact and opportunity.
 
Students learn about computer assisted design, design thinking models, 3D printing, various age appropriate engineering principles, tool safety, simple motors and gears, creative process, problem solving strategies, as well as the math behind Rubik’s cubes and other 3D puzzles.
 
But most importantly, we want our students to be fearless, life long learners so they are ready to face the challenges of our rapidly changing world. We inspire interest in STEAM subjects by empowering students to be curious and dream big dreams. We create opportunities that value critical thinking over procedure and memorization.
 
When students are engaged, they are better able to discover their talents and develop the mental resources they need to think critically. Learning is an iterative process and so by connecting with information learned earlier and continually updating it, and connecting it to new knowledge, we truly build a framework for a meaningful education.
 
In the classroom

In the Creative Learning Lab we have reimagined how students think about and engage with technology. Besides leading edge technology like 3D printers, open source software and Apple products, we also use simple tools like popsicle sticks, binder clips, string, rubber bands and balloons for various engineering challenges.
 
Students engage with challenges that fostered both critical thinking and creativity. We use literacy to offer students authentic problems and contexts to work in as they complete team challenges.  Often students are presented with 2-4 “play stations” and the students had the opportunity to move at their own pace through the lessons. We found that the more free choice we provide the better the final project.
 
Stations could include a circuit station with various tools (Snap Circuits, Squishy Circuits, simple motors and sensors), a CAD table with ipads and a design challenge, a lego city building station where students have to think about how to rebuild a city destroyed by natural disaster, a bridge building station where student work with various materials to build in groups, Soma puzzle challenges, and the list goes on and on.
 
We search for ways to foster inventiveness as well as truly engaged learning.