Add as a preferred source on Google

A "Tinker Lab" for Young Students Opens in Pa. School

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 09/17/19

Germantown Academy, a PreK-12 private school in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, recently gained a new makerspace aimed at younger students. In the makerspace, known as the “Tinker Lab,” PreK-5 students are able to problem solve through hands-on activities and be more engaged in learning.

In the makerspace, known as the “Tinker Lab,” PreK-5 students are able to problem solve through hands-on activities and overall be more engaged in learning.

The Tinker Lab is equipped with a laser cutter, 3-D printer, workstations, an industrial sink, kitchenette and hand tools. The space used to be a PreK-2 grade space but as part of their improvements, the school decided to expand the space so that all students in the Lower School would be able to use it.

“All kids really love using their hands and making and building, so this space allows for that movement and that engagement to happen.” Jessica Killo, PreK-12 STEAM Coordinator, said in a video about the Tinker Lab.

The makerspace, designed by 1100 Architect, a New York-based design firm, includes a garage door for indoor-outdoor use and that allows natural light into the room.  

The Tinker Lab is equipped with a laser cutter, 3-D printer, workstations, an industrial sink, kitchenette and hand tools

In addition to the Tinker Lab, 1100 Architect renovated the Lower School’s entrance and parent gathering space, science classrooms and corridors. In 2016, the firm also upgraded a computer lab and part of the library into the Beard Center for Innovation, a makerspace and robotics lab.

“The new Tinker Lab provides something so important to young students — a place to be creative, to test ideas, to collaborate with peers, and to understand classroom lessons in tangible ways,” Gwen Conners, lead designer of the firm’s projects at Germantown Academy, said in a press release. “The Tinker Lab and the Beard Center for Innovation allow students of all ages a chance to engage in hands-on learning, and they help distinguish Germantown Academy as a leader of 21st century education.”

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • University of Utah Launches Utah 360 App

    The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, recently announced that it has partnered with digital engagement hub Pathify to launch a new app for the university community, according to a news release.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition