The Jordan School District is continuing to leverage technology as a crucial part of the educational experience, officially opening the Jordan Innovation Lab on Friday.
Housed inside Juniper Elementary School, the first-of-its-kind lab is designed to give elementary-age students hands-on experience in high-tech areas, including 3D printing, stop-motion robotics, coding and much more.
The lab was made possible through a partnership between the district, America First Credit Union and the Smith Entertainment Group.
“One of the things that we’re very excited about as we open this innovation lab is the chance to give our kids the opportunity to explore amazing new technologies and tools,” said Jared Covili, digital teaching and learning consultant for the district. “I’ve been in technology for 20 years and most of the tools that we have in that lab haven’t even been around for five years, so they’re all things that are basically coming in the last five years, that we’re trying to help our students learn today so that they can become the leaders of tomorrow.”
Covili said the hope is for students to bring the concepts they learn in the classroom into the innovation lab and create “amazing new things.”
Additionally, the lab won’t just be used by students at Juniper Elementary School. Covili said the lab will be open to other schools in the district to host in-district field trips.
It’s safe to say that the students are also excited about the innovation lab.
The lab was packed on Friday, with students experimenting with all kinds of technology. For example, a duo of students was creating a stop-motion project to depict different seasons and weather events.
Another was using a 3D printer to create decorations for his fish tank.
“When I first saw this, I was blown away with how many 3D printers there were,” said Juniper Elementary student Hudson Ashcroft. “I’m very excited that Juniper has this, because other schools have to come to us, but for us, it’s right down the hallway. I really encourage other schools to come, because this is the first time anything like this has happened.”
Mila Levine, another student at Juniper Elementary School, said she was impressed with all of the technology and creative offerings housed in the lab.
“It’s like stepping into the future,” Mila said. “I’m especially excited because this lab will let us bring our ideas to life, experiment with new tools and learn in a way that’s fun and hands-on. This lab is definitely going to help us become leaders in our own right. To me, innovation means thinking outside the box and trying new things.”
Carolyn Gough, administrator of teaching and learning in the district, said one of the characteristics the district has identified in its “portrait of a graduate” is curious thinking and real-world problem solving.
“Those are two very important characteristics that we want for our graduates. This is the kind of setting that will allow them to do that. This helps to push that thinking and that ability so that they’re able to add to their community and just be the type of graduates that really give back to what we’re doing in Utah and in Jordan School District,” Gough said.
