Innovation Lab
Expanded in 2024-25, the redesigned Innovation Lab is a launching pad for future innovators. Students are encouraged to think like designers, using a structured design thinking process that includes five phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. This iterative approach helps students deepen their understanding of course material while developing solutions tailored to real-world challenges.
The Innovation Lab includes 3D printers, a 3D scanner, embroidery machines, Cricut machines, a laser cutter (Glowforge), a heat press, a sublimation printer, robotics (Sphero, Lego Inventors, and Birdbrain/Microbit) along with crafting materials such as construction paper, scissors, cardboard, glue, straws, toothpicks, etc.
Students through grades K-8 are taught to understand what a tool does and respect it for safety while being comfortable with it to create a solution via Prototyping. Each class comes to the lab a few times a year for curriculum-driven projects.
PRESS RELEASE September 6, 2024: NPES Celebrates the Grand Opening of its Innovation Lab
