FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government is providing Brilliant Labs with $500,000 in grant funding to develop and promote hands-on learning and innovation in schools.
“New Brunswick’s students must be prepared for the workplaces of the future and giving students an opportunity to apply what they learn in class to hands-on projects is crucial to that goal,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy. “The initiatives by Brilliant Labs encourage students to problem-solve in new and creative ways.”
The funding will allow the not-for-profit organization to build on the 170 classroom projects completed last year, which included student-designed 3D printers and concussion-monitoring helmets. Other student projects included developing a maker space for fabrication at Oromocto High School and releasing their own open-source technology to meet student-demands, including an autonomous aquaponics system at Blackville School.
Over the past year, the organization has supported thousands of students in schools, and through their summer camps. They have created more than 150 maker spaces and more then 225 maker carts and maker kits in schools across the province. These spaces allow children to create using different tools, technology and materials in a fun, hands-on learning environment. In addition, teachers are coached on how to engage in project-based learning, which promotes creativity, an entrepreneurial mindset, computational thinking, digital competencies and scientific inquiry.
“Brilliant Labs is incredibly proud to continue to support students and teachers across New Brunswick,” said Jacob Lingley, director of Instructional Design. “As we travel throughout the province, we have the pleasure of watching students ignite their passions as they combine new and familiar materials to solve complex, community-based problems.”
Brilliant Labs is a hands-on technology and experiential learning platform that supports the integration of creativity, innovation, coding, and an entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms and educational curriculums. More information on the organization and their programming is available online.