SmartLab

The SmartLab is a state-of-the-art learning environment that engages students through hands-on learning and fosters the practices of critical thinking and problem solving. Students work in groups to exercise their creativity utilizing modern day technology while developing vital 21st century skills. The curriculum of the SmartLab emphasizes 8 systems of technology: science and data acquisition, mechanics and structures, robotics and control technology, circuitry, graphic design, multimedia and publishing, computer simulation, and renewable energy. Students are held accountable for their work through the documentation of their process which includes written, as well as, visual aids. Students are responsible for recording not only their success and progress but also their mistakes and oversights throughout the experience.

At Turning Point, the SmartLab has been introduced as an elective and also as a requirement for the Y and G sections in middle school. It is also offered as an after-school class and as an option in our summer specialists' camp. Students are given the opportunity to explore their interests and engage in a discipline where collaboration is essential for the development of the project. In the SmartLab students are encouraged to tackle problems independently. In the event that a student struggles with a particular troubleshooting opportunity, he or she is guided toward the solution rather than given a direct answer. Upon completion of their project students assess their own work according to a rubric which evaluates their objective, project plan, presentation, and teamwork. Students present their findings for the class before moving on to a new area of interest. Click on the video below to watch the SmartLab in action!