Author Archives: Garreth Heidt

PA Dept. of Transportation Design Challenge

Wolf Administration’s “Innovations Challenge” Invites Students to Develop Technologies, Solutions to Combat Roadway Litter Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in the third PennDOT Innovations Challenge which encourages students to use their problem-solving,Continue reading “PA Dept. of Transportation Design Challenge”

When a Plan Comes Together

Since Phil Holcombe’s Monday discussion with our classes on the value and methods of branding, we’ve been discovering the common signals that seem to emanate from the documents we’ve explored about this class and others like it. Today we got to the point where the two classes had (as smaller groups) defined their common signalsContinue reading “When a Plan Comes Together”

I have been to the Mountain Top…

I ran across this article today and was reminded of some of the background work that went into the creation of inNOVAtion Lab.  In the summer of 2015, accompanied by my superintendent and our STEM coordinator, I visited Lehigh’s Mountain Top Program.  We were led through the space by Dr. Sarah Stanlick.  The immensity ofContinue reading “I have been to the Mountain Top…”

Philadelphia Tech Elevator

Wondering if Coding is for you?  Want to know if you have the calculatory “chops” to crank out C++, Java, and other languages? Check out the Philadelphia Tech Elevator, a coding bootcamp that might set you up for a future of coding and creating a better world…virtually speaking. They have a free aptitude test andContinue reading “Philadelphia Tech Elevator”

Who’s Telling Your Story?

Today the students in NOVA Lab got a chance to hear from the undergraduate director of Industrial Design at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Phil Holcombe.  Phil is also the principal designer at the Educational Design Consultancy, Form & Faculty. The students’ first real-world design challenge is to help create the brand and storyContinue reading “Who’s Telling Your Story?”

Branding, Defining, and Suring Foundations

This student reflection gives some insight into where we are and why.  I’m not going to comment beyond pointing to the way this author posits ownership over clarifying the brand of the class in the last paragraph.  Don’t know if I could ask for more.  There’s much work to be done, but with students likeContinue reading “Branding, Defining, and Suring Foundations”

Rhizomes, Design Thinking, and Learning

This week has been a true learning curve for me.  And I say that after 26 years in the classroom.  I still have much to learn. We began the week by finishing up our design sprint using the Extraordinaires Design Studio.  Students completed a run-through of the Design Thinking (DT) cycle and sketched a potentialContinue reading “Rhizomes, Design Thinking, and Learning”

NOVA Lab–Procedural Info: Grading

Many of you know that I have been shifting, slowly and imperfectly, from using grades (a habit born of . . . oh . . . a lifetime of being graded, earning grades, needing the approval of others, and, of course, “giving grades.” For years I played that game, and I was (am) GOOD atContinue reading “NOVA Lab–Procedural Info: Grading”

Reflecting, Projecting: Co-Designing Curriculum

The past few days we spent doing quick presentations of our Extraordinaires Design Studio projects.  Afterwards, we reflected on the learning coming out of that experience and how it sets us up for what’s to come. Additionally, we’ve been thinking and pooling our ideas about co-designing the curriculum. Where do we need/want to go?  HowContinue reading “Reflecting, Projecting: Co-Designing Curriculum”