GHS Innovation Lab Applications are OPEN!

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By Julie Faryniarz

Remy R. is working on “printing”circuits on silicon chips to replace worn-out parts on old and out-of-production electronics. He has completely reprogrammed and custom rigged a projector to use a UV LED and read direct input from a program on his computer.

Richa V. is attempting to culture a natural phage from the environment that can reliably kill bacteria cultures. Her goal is to develop an ointment/solution/tincture that contains a bacteriophage that can reliably kill potentially harmful bacteria populations that someone could use on a cut or other wound.

These are just two examples of Innovation Lab science research projects students are exploring with Richard Baxley, GHS In Lab Science Research teacher. Science research is the STEM option for seniors in In Lab and Social Science, taught by Joe Baske, is the other option. Seniors are also enrolled in a Design Studio block to further collaborate on projects

In 2014, the Greenwich Alliance for Education gave the first Reaching Out Grant of $250,000 to five teachers at GHS to research and design a learning program to engage students, at all academic levels, who were looking for a new way of “doing school”.

For an entire year, Sarah Goldin (science), Brian Walach (math), Michael Belanger (English), Christina Shaw (social studies) and Kyaiera Mistretta (English), in consultation with Chris Winters, met every afternoon to design a “school within a school” at GHS. Their goal was to create additional options for students to fully engage in learning.

I often stopped by the little room, where they worked, to read the chalkboard and decipher the arrows, bubbles, and lines linking their thoughts and program design together. At the next visit, this board might look entirely different because a new and better design was being constructed.

As they started to formulate what is now called Innovation Lab, the team focused on project based learning (PBL). PBL gives students the autonomy to dive deeper into areas of content that they are curious and passionate about while engaging in complex problem-solving. The team researched and visited other programs with project-based learning models, in order to better understand how to implement a robust learning experience. Amongst other models, they visited High Tech High in San Diego, Newton North High School in Massachusetts, Drexel University’s ExITe Center in Philadelphia, and the MIT Media Lab in Boston.

The team engaged in extensive professional development at the Deeper Learning Conference hosted by High Tech High in San Diego, CA.

Started in 2013, Deeper Learning is more than a conference. The depth of dialogue, reflection, and inspiration is focused on building a movement that catalyzes educators toward collective and transformative action. Educators have the opportunity to experience deeper learning for themselves through immersive deep dive sessions with students at the center of this work. https://deeper-learning.org/dl22/

High Tech High is an independent public charter school serving more than 500 students in grades 9-12 and now has a network of 16 charter schools serving over 6000 students in grades k-12. The school’s mission is to prepare a diverse range of students for postsecondary education, citizenship, and leadership in the high technology industry. It boasts state-of-the-art technical facilities for project-based learning, internships for all students, and close links to the high-tech workplace. Since opening, HTH has been one of the highest scoring schools in San Diego County on the California Academic Performance Index. https://www.hightechhigh.org/about/

Fall of 2015, marked the official opening of Innovation Lab with a class of sophomores taught by Sarah Goldin and Brian Walach for STEM and Courtney Hawes and Mike Belanger for the Humanities. Christina Shaw was the administrator for Innovation Lab and also taught in the Design Studio. The Alliance’s grant investment gave and continues to give teachers the flexibility to purchase technology and materials needed to fully implement the program. For example, technology like the Vernier’s Lab Quest tool and its associated sensors supported STEM units as students tracked a variety of data, including ion levels and pH in water, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the air, and temperature.

As part of the humanities section, students competed in National History Day and have won several local, regional, and national recognitions over the years. Students research and contact outside experts to enlist their assistance with deepening their learning and understanding on the topics in both humanities and STEM. Student Exhibitions of Work happen at least twice a year and provide students the opportunity to share their projects to the broader Greenwich community. Corinne Flax, at the Bruce Museum, has been an integral partner in the exhibitions.

Like any innovative design, Innovation Lab is constantly iterating and evolving. New teachers have joined In Lab (Jessica von Brachel, Kathy Mendez, Rick Baxley, Ben Gawle and Joe Baske) and have continuously reimagined and updated the program design and content to best meet the academic needs and interests of students.

Fall 2022 In Lab applications are open for all grade levels.
Students who will be enrolled at Greenwich High School in Fall 2022 as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior are eligible to apply.

In Lab is offering Humanities (interdisciplinary English and social studies) in grades 9, 10, 11. STEM is available in 10th and 11th grade (an interdisciplinary double-block Environmental Chemistry or Physics). Grade 12 is either Science Research or Social Science Research. All grade levels also take a Design Studio elective that meets the requirements for labs/SemSkills and project support. Check out the InLab course offerings in the GHS Course of Study Guide.

When is the Deadline to Apply? Applications for InLab are open and are rolling admissions and close on Friday, March 11th. Please visit the ghsinnovationlab.com website for the Google Form application.

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