Learning Labs

Learning Labs are held in partnership with schools and community organizations and create opportunities for children and teens to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers through hands-on projects and design-thinking methodology.

The opportunities are designed to engage students in making, designing, failing, fixing, and ultimately having fun. Learning Labs are grounded in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving and require perseverance and collaboration helping the student build transferable skills that extend beyond the classroom walls to relevant day-to-day experiences.

Here at Generator our series of labs include:

Maker Lab

Maker Labs are about exposure. During these sessions students get their hands on the materials, tools, and software, and make a product.

Design Lab

Design Labs build on Maker Labs and incorporate design thinking and collaborative problem solving. During these sessions students will engage with the design thinking process and use the appropriate software and tools to prototype and produce personal work.

Fab Lab

Fab Labs take the process one step further by incorporating a client or manufacturing partner. During these sessions students will jump into the engineering and development deep end by working with a client or partner to design and fabricate a product that meets the needs of a specific project brief.

OUR WORKSHOPS

We offer several different workshops to accommodate groups’ different sizes, age ranges, interests, needs, timelines, and goals. All of our workshops expose youth to the design-thinking process through hands-on work and problem solving.

Marble Maze Challenge

Students form groups and work together to create intricate marble run models that are placed head to head competitions. Through prototyping, iterative processes, collaboration, and testing their assumptions, students are challenged to use design thinking methods to navigate the challenge. This is great for larger groups looking for activity-based learning programs. We recommend starting this activity with a tour of Generator’s facilities.

Customized Laser Cut Phone Stands

Using Adobe Illustrator and the Epilog Laser Cutter, students design and print a custom phone charging stand they can use on their desk or nightstand. Students learn how to navigate the Adobe Illustrator interface, appropriately organize their artboards, and export their digital creations to fabrication. Instructors will discuss materials exploration, design choices, and how vector programs and 3D modeling intersect.

Living Hinged Design Journal

Using Adobe Illustrator and the Epilog Laser Cutter, students design and fabricate unique journals that express their personal style. Students learn universal design methods used by industry professionals to create their own logos on Adobe Illustrator. They then etch their logos into a baltic birch journal cover before adding the paper and elastic to complete their journal. The living hinge design journal is the perfect place for students to store all their future engineering and design ideas!

WORK WITH US

Are you an educator interested in bringing hands-on, design-thinking learning experience to your students?

Please contact our Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships for details on how to set up a workshop with us.