District plans Innovation Lab on wheels

In Downingtown Area SD, the bus isn’t just bringing students to school, it’s bringing school to students. The Downingtown Community Education Foundation is converting an accessible school bus, donated by the Krapf Bus Company, into a Mobile Innovation Lab. According to an article on the district’s website, the project will create a gathering place for our elementary students to come together, work through a project and obstacles, design a solution, test things out, figure out what works and what doesn’t, and experience the joy of holding that final creation in his/her hands. The lab will give students the opportunity to learn about coding, programming, robotics, and circuitry in a hands-on environment.   The bus will hold computer stations, 3D printers, indoor and outdoor presentation screens, mini drones, robotics and much more. Work carts can be used inside the lab, outside under a retractable awning or taken into school buildings. The school has already hired a K-5 Mobile Innovation Lab resource teacher to staff the bus. To help raise funds for the project, the district is holding a fundraising contest between the elementary schools. The school that has the most participation will receive a visit from the bus first.