CREATE LAB OVERVIEW
The Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab), at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, explores socially meaningful innovation and deployment of robotic technologies. We aim to empower a technologically fluent generation through experiential learning opportunities in and outside of school. |
Housed at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, the CREATE Lab (Community Robotics, Education, and Technology Empowerment) believes in combining human-robot interaction with a desire to disruptively redefine how communities use technologies to make sense of their context. In many traditional models of community engagement and education, universities have positioned themselves as knowledge holders—entering into schools and communities to carry out research and then exiting without consideration for sustainability or the needs of area stakeholders. In contrast to this problematic approach, many innovative universities and labs are now considering a more asset-based, responsive, and equitable approach to working with partners.
CREATE Lab aims to create self-sustaining communities of learning, expression, and technology usage as fostered with inquiry-driven, hands-on approaches to learning. This learning uses technology as inspiration for wonder and discovery, leading to lifelong skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and self-identification with technology as a tool for exploration and personal expression.
The technologies that have emerged out of the work at CREATE have aimed to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. One of our most widely used technologies has been our Hummingbird kits. These kits have been implemented in literature, science, and physical education, pushing the boundaries of where, when, why, and how robotic technologies are used in K-12 settings.
The lab emphasizes transparency in the dissemination of new technologies, curricula, and evaluation methodologies so that both research and the effective use of technology in formal and informal learning settings can grow intentionally and accessibly. As part of our technology development practices, we partner with educators in a variety of contexts. Importantly, our work is deeply underpinned by our collective belief in the expertise of educators' knowing not only their content areas but the needs of their learners. In this way, we aim to support educators as designers of learning while also empowering them to develop technological fluency.
CREATE Lab aims to create self-sustaining communities of learning, expression, and technology usage as fostered with inquiry-driven, hands-on approaches to learning. This learning uses technology as inspiration for wonder and discovery, leading to lifelong skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and self-identification with technology as a tool for exploration and personal expression.
The technologies that have emerged out of the work at CREATE have aimed to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. One of our most widely used technologies has been our Hummingbird kits. These kits have been implemented in literature, science, and physical education, pushing the boundaries of where, when, why, and how robotic technologies are used in K-12 settings.
The lab emphasizes transparency in the dissemination of new technologies, curricula, and evaluation methodologies so that both research and the effective use of technology in formal and informal learning settings can grow intentionally and accessibly. As part of our technology development practices, we partner with educators in a variety of contexts. Importantly, our work is deeply underpinned by our collective belief in the expertise of educators' knowing not only their content areas but the needs of their learners. In this way, we aim to support educators as designers of learning while also empowering them to develop technological fluency.
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The CREATE Lab is both a technology breeding ground and a community partner. It is this unique combination that enables a new form of local change: one that empowers the citizens to chart their technology future and, most important of all, their community's prospects for quality of life.
This video showcases the many technologies and opportunities ABC CREATE educators have to trial and integrate technologies into the community through their classrooms.
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TECHNOLOGY FLUENCY
We define technology fluency as the confidence to author / creatively configure technology to pursue individual and collective goals. One way we explain technology fluency is in contrast with technology literacy. A technologically literate person is a competent user of technology, has studied the manual and knows how to operate a system for its intended use. A technologically fluent individual views technology as raw material and can shape it to meet her personal and community needs, through creation and repurposing. In the context of education: Technologically fluent students apply technology to study, communicate about and impact issues of direct concern. Technologically fluent educators use technology to grow their practice, apply it in context-relevant ways, use it to identify diverse student talents and facilitate multiple learning pathways.
We define technology fluency as the confidence to author / creatively configure technology to pursue individual and collective goals. One way we explain technology fluency is in contrast with technology literacy. A technologically literate person is a competent user of technology, has studied the manual and knows how to operate a system for its intended use. A technologically fluent individual views technology as raw material and can shape it to meet her personal and community needs, through creation and repurposing. In the context of education: Technologically fluent students apply technology to study, communicate about and impact issues of direct concern. Technologically fluent educators use technology to grow their practice, apply it in context-relevant ways, use it to identify diverse student talents and facilitate multiple learning pathways.
THE CREATE LAB SATELLITE NETWORK
CREATE Lab projects offer experiences that foster technology fluency. However, fluency cannot be shrink wrapped and mass distributed. Building fluency requires ongoing engagement and support. Empowering a learner to leverage technology for making a difference, in their lives and their community, requires intimate understanding of local context. Through partnership with colleges of education the CREATE Lab brings technology fluency to communities in locally relevant ways. An outreach team in each college of education acts as a CREATE Lab Satellite, sharing and supporting CREATE Lab projects in their community through teacher professional development, pre-service teacher training and graduate education programs. Satellites serve as a local hub educators can turn to for guidance, equipment and resource lending, and other support. Facilitating regular ongoing communication, the CREATE Lab coordinates activities, collaborations and sharing of best practices among all Satellites. The Satellite Network hosts a bi-annual conference to share lessons learned and promote a public conversation around technology fluency. Since the inception of the first CREATE Satellite at Marshall University (September 2011), the Network has actively engaged over 8000 students in more than 100 schools. 80% of those are in disadvantaged communities such as extremely rural West Virginia. |
CURRENT PARTNERS
West Virginia Marshall University - School of Education - June Harless Center for Rural Education West Liberty University - College of Education - Center for Arts & Education West Virginia University - College of Education and Human Services Pennsylvania Carlow University - College of Learning and Innovation + Campus School ABC CREATE - Penn State New Kensington + 15 school districts Utah Utah STEM Action Center (part of Governor's office) Utah Valley University - School of Education Southern Utah University - College of Science and Engineering - Center for STEM Teaching and Learning Georgia Georgia Tech - The Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) |