Dorseyville Middle School students will have a new space for hands-on creating and problem-solving when they return to class on Tuesday.

A maker space called The Innovation Lab has been configured at the school along Saxonburg Boulevard where students can experiment, design and collaborate.

The students will help to select some of the lab's features, but staples include vinyl cutters, soldering tools, Hummingbird Robotics and Google Cardboard virtual reality equipment. There may be 3D Theta cameras, fabric, conductive thread and LEDs, and there already is a 3D printer at the school.

“Making is the foundation that challenges students to design, prototype, iterate, collaborate and repeat,” said teacher Cathie Gillner.

“So often, students want to be finished, and designing requires students to practice resiliency and patience.”

Cost for the room and resources was $20,000 and was paid by a grant through the Center for Creativity and the Benedum and Grable foundations.

The space supports the district's commitment to inquiry-based learning, Superintendent Gene Freeman said.

A maker space is an area with resources for high-level creation, he said.

There is space for designing, materials to support creating and building, as well as opportunities for collaboration. Mobile carts will be available.

“Making isn't another trend or educational fad,” said Megan Cicconi, district director of instructional and innovative leadership. “It offers another opportunity for students to demonstrate highly coveted 21st century skills.”

Matt Harris, district director of secondary education and instruction, said students and teachers who use the space “will have materials and resources for designing, creating, and building at their fingertips, expanding how they demonstrate mastery of a skill or content.”

Cicconi said the term “maker” is gaining traction with national and regional maker fairs popping up, like Maker Faire Pittsburgh Oct. 15 and 16 in the North Side. She noted the district will have exhibits at three tables there.

Cicconi said the school's maker team of teachers will merge the best of low- and high-tech materials to meet the needs of budding inventors while maintaining curricular focus.

“Student-centered learning is certainly at the heart of this initiative,” she said. Teacher Mimi Loeffler said the lab will help empower students.

“Everyone can be a maker,” she said. “Making can inspire students to think in innovative ways. It's thinking deeply about design, process and iteration.”

Tawnya Panizzi is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. Reach her at 412-782-2121, ext. 2 or at tpanizzi@tribweb.com.

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