Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Don Sidlowski gives a presentation to a group of Ewen-Trout Creek elementary students about the school's new Fab Lab maker space and its 3-D printer. At right is teacher Angela Berglund. Sidlowski has been retained by the district as a consultant and is director of the Fab Lab program.
EWEN - Ewen-Trout Creek students in kindergarten through sixth grade were recently introduced to the school's new Fab Lab.
Don Sidlowski, founder of the Northwoods Broadband and Economic Development Coalition, gave each grade a 25-minute introduction in the maker space room. In giving them an overview of the Fab Lab program, he introduced to the technology available in the room.
Superintendent Dave Radovich said staff orientation on the program was held earlier in the school year, adding Sidlowski was retained as a consultant to serve as the Fab Lab program director.
A fab lab program combines a STEAM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, art, math) and projects using the 4C's (critical thinking, cooperation, communication, collaboration) and the engineering design process, with a digital design and fabrication maker space, "adding a vital role in the holistic education of students," said Radovich.
"We are so excited to have this state-of-the-art 21st century educational program and maker space as part of the Ewen-Trout Creek educational opportunity," said Radovich. "Students at E-TC will have the chance to learn skills and try ideas in a totally new way with both the equipment in the maker space room as well as curriculum and projects that are being introduced."
In the second semester, students will begin with simple projects and then move onto more advanced tasks, he said. "Teachers will introduce the STEAM curriculum to go with it - which is critically important."
A formal launch with ribbon-cutting ceremony is postponed until the spring.
-Daily Globe
