What new space at ASL is making a splash? (And it’s not the pool!) The MILL (Make Innovate Learn Lab) is a new space that excites both students and teachers. The MILL is a room filled with Legos, 3D printers, and many resources for engineering to be used by students in lower, middle, and high school.
Middle school students interviewed across all grade levels were enthusiastic about the new space. “We used the MILL in science for building our balloon cars. For the balloon cars, we are going to use laser-cut materials to create pieces which we will then put together to make a car,” said seventh grader Maxine Scott. “We have been able to create new ideas, and we are able to write on the tables and the windows.”
Being able to write on the tables and windows has been a popular feature of the MILL among all students. Eighth grader Natalia Smith said, “It’s really nice how there are different ways to jot down ideas; you can do it on the windows, on the tables, and it’s nice to be able to visualize your ideas like that.”
Mr. Colin McCarty, director of the MILL, explained why the MILL was created, and why it was such a success. He said that since the school has adopted NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), it was necessary to create the MILL, as one of those standards is engineering. The school needed a place for students to do their engineering work. “Inquiry and hands-on learning are a big part of what we want to happen at ASL,” said Mr. McCarty. “So, this was conceived as not just a science space, but also a place to come in and do the inquiry process and the design thinking process for any problem or assignment that a teacher gives students.”
Mr. McCarty is excited about the way the space is being used throughout the school. He reported that many grades have used the space for a variety of reasons such as toy designing in third grade and working on drones and prosthetic hands in the high school.
Mr. McCarty has many ideas for the future. He wants students of all ages to be able to utilize the resources provided. He also said that he hopes that one day the MILL will be open on weekends for the entire ASL community.
Middle school students have their own ideas about how to use the space. Many students imagined using the space for math and English. Sixth grader Nicholas Zirinis said, “It would be nice to use the MILL in English to brainstorm and write down ideas.” Overall, it is clear that the MILL offers many opportunities now, and will continue to provide more in the future.
Students use the MILL to design and plan out their ideas. The MILL was created as a place for students of all ages to take part in hands-on leaning, and it was designed as part of the new construction at ASL.
