About
This work was funded through a National Science Foundation EArly concept Grants for Experimental Research (EAGER) grant number 1723559 Titled "Piloting a BioDesign Maker Space and Curriculum for K-12 STEM Learning"
It was undertaken at the Rhode Island School of Design's Nature Lab. Situated as a science resource for artists and designers within the college, we strive to create bridges between art and science for learners, practitioners and faculty. With approximately 80,000 natural history specimens, imaging equipment ranging from stereomicroscopes to a scanning electron microsope, Geographic Information Systems, and an array of field and lab equipment, we aimed to create curriculum that could be used at venues with varying levels of resource availability
It was undertaken at the Rhode Island School of Design's Nature Lab. Situated as a science resource for artists and designers within the college, we strive to create bridges between art and science for learners, practitioners and faculty. With approximately 80,000 natural history specimens, imaging equipment ranging from stereomicroscopes to a scanning electron microsope, Geographic Information Systems, and an array of field and lab equipment, we aimed to create curriculum that could be used at venues with varying levels of resource availability
The final design of the space was created during a studio course within RISD's Interior Architecture Program. Grounded in principles of biophilic design and sustainability, and using a list of requirements for the space, students created designs either solely or in groups, and from the midterm on worked on one final design that was built over the summer of 2018. Their designs and plans for buildable units, within their designs, are available under the Makerspace tab.
We were fortunate in being able to engage not only our own resources for this project, but also the facilities and expertise of students and faculty from across the campus in designing and building the space, and creating and teaching the curriculum. Care has been taken to ensure that these outcomes are accessible to anyone wishing to follow our plans and lessons with a potentially more limited array of facilities and tools.
We were fortunate in being able to engage not only our own resources for this project, but also the facilities and expertise of students and faculty from across the campus in designing and building the space, and creating and teaching the curriculum. Care has been taken to ensure that these outcomes are accessible to anyone wishing to follow our plans and lessons with a potentially more limited array of facilities and tools.
The summer build cohort consisted of four graduate students and four undergrads. They translated the plans for the space into reality over a ten week period in the summer of 2018.
During that same summer, students in RISD's Teaching and Learning in Art and Design M.A.T. program were introduced to biodesign concepts in preparation for creating curriculum that they then taught to a cohort of tenth grade students from the nearby Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (MET) school during the Fall of 2018. Based on that experience, the curriculum was revised into the format you see here, and taught to a new cohort of tenth graders from the MET in the Spring of 2019.