Design Lab

A project of NYSCI's Verizon Center for STEM Learning, Design Lab explores how design-based learning can give teachers new strategies for engaging all types of learners.

Design-based learning holds great potential to reshape classroom teaching and learning, making students active participants. Design-based learning means students don't just read science textbooks, they independently conduct science experiments; recording their results and drawing conclusions based on data and research.

NYSCI is presently working with the inaugural class of 20 Design Lab fellows to co-design activities that they will take back to their classrooms for the 2011 – 2012 school year. The fellows are middle and high school teachers from public schools in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Nassau County.

Design Lab in the News

Partnership to Offer STEM Professional Development (pdf)
May 12, 2011
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At the Design Lab kick-off, curriculum developer, exhibit designer, and kinetic sculptor Bernie Zubrowski led a "ski jump" challenge using only simple materials. The challenge highlights the importance of data collection and sharing throughout the design process. This was followed by another design challenge where teachers were given tiny pager motors, batteries, toothbrushes, and sponges to create kinetic robots.