Remember the pencil holder you made back in elementary school or the bird house you made in middle school? Those moments are special because they are examples of our ability to transform an idea in our minds into a reality. Unfortunately, the teaching methods have been shifting the way we learn leaving behind opportunities for students to explore their creativity such as shop class. The main purpose of the “Innovation Makers Laboratory” program is to provide the ability for any school to transform an old fashion shop class into an exploration of creativity and life skill laboratory for any student from middle school all the way to adulthood to assist in knowledge and real word elements in creating meaningful learning for students. The program will provide the list of equipment needed for the Innovation Makers Laboratory as well as the safety training and the first aid training. Most important, it will provide professional development for the teachers involved in this program such as how to incorporate the Innovation Makers Laboratory into all the other curriculums. For example, building a musical instrument exploring sound waves or creating tools used for farmers during medieval time or building a better ketchup dispenser for cooking class. The Innovation Makers Laboratory is a low-cost option for a great curriculum that will promote exploration, innovation, cross curriculum opportunities, and life skills that will always be part of our memories like that pencil holder or the bird house.
