Makerspace

In early 2020, as part of a STEM-focused grant, Irvington Community School, Inc. was awarded funding to develop a dedicated Makerspace for our students and faculty. In partnership with a local business, 1st Makerspace, ICS outfitted a room in Irvington Preparatory Academy and started training K-12 teachers on how to optimize the use of this unique creative space. Makerspaces are designed to allow students to engage in authentic problem-based learning experiences where design, modeling, and tinkering are all core aspects of the learning process. This type of hands-on learning encourages students to be more engaged in their learning, invites more creativity in the output of learning, and addresses key employability skills outlined by the Indiana Department of Education. During the 2021-2022 school year, teachers will receive additional professional development in how to best leverage the space, and students will experience highly engaging learning opportunities there.