Since the addition of Innovation Labs to Shaker Middle School back in 2021-22, sixth graders in the North Colonie Central School District have had the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art technology classes aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers. With classes including Coding and Robotics, Clean Technology, and Wellness, it’s easy to see why the program is so popular among students. Teachers and administrators not only saw the enthusiasm from students, but also recognized the benefits of this curriculum and worked to expand the reach of innovation labs to a larger student population this school year.
This past summer, special education teachers at SMS met with innovation lab instructors to come up with a plan to incorporate communications classes into their curriculum.
“We had two days during the summer to just meet with them and talk about what this class would look like with our kids,” said Special Education Teacher Mrs. Susan Deierlein. With the help of Mrs. Deierlein and the other communications teachers, i-lab instructors created specialized assignments to meet the needs of many of their incoming communications students. That meant thinking outside the box a bit.
“It’s really kind of forced me to come up with different activities. Usually what I do in my innovation classes is so computer-driven. It’s been really refreshing to get hands-on again and now I’m finding myself wanting to do more hands-on stuff again with my other classes as well,” said Simulation Teacher Mr. Mark Kaercher.
During an October day in Kaercher’s class, he was instructing communications students on how to make a specific structure with K’nex pieces, using step-by-step slides on a smartboard. Some students chose to work quietly on their own, while others preferred help and encouragement from either Kaercher or one of the educational aides. Students are encouraged to participate and work at their own pace, but never pushed beyond what is comfortable for them and every activity can be modified.
In Mrs. Michelle Vasilakis’s Wellness innovation lab, she can be found working through very intentional exercises with her communications students. “Especially the breathing. It’s amazing how many students breathe in and out of their mouth and the students breathe up here versus down into their belly to facilitate feeling calmer and more connected to themselves.” Vasilakis encourages those students who are able to express their thoughts and feelings through words and for others to listen before getting an opportunity to respond.
Special Education Teacher Mrs. Christina Biviano is encouraged by the early results. “Collaborating with Mrs. Doolittle and the innovation team has been a great experience for our students! Mrs. Doolittle has given my students an opportunity to explore a variety of activities that are meaningful and appropriate for them,” said Biviano. “I think it’s a great experience for them to do something different in a different place with different people. So I think getting this innovation time for these kids is really really quite good,” said Kaercher.
And it sounds like the teachers are getting as much out of the collaboration as the students. “I’ve been teaching for 31 years and I feel like a first year teacher again.”