Hands On Learning Labs Overview

The Community Youth Development Institute (CYDI) offers hands on learning as a way to encourage student creativity, imagination and group communication in schools.  Providing students with hands-on opportunities to design, create, problem-solve and construct are fundamental elements for engaging learners.     We believe that our hands on learning “makerspace style” labs provide the hands-on learning skills that will better prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.  In fact, a recent Committee for Economic Development report found "teamwork, problem solving, and ability to work with others of diverse backgrounds" are the top three skills sought by U.S. businesses. Below are a few of the many benefits of hands on labs:

Providing the opportunity to innovate - Our Labs foster innovation through hands-on experimentation. Students have the opportunity to be creative and apply personalized learning strategies to make changes to existing concepts or develop their own ideas, methods or products.

Creating real-world applications for classroom concepts - Hands-on learning takes the concepts taught through lecture, video or textbooks and allows students to move from an abstract concept to a real-world understanding. Students are then able to practice creating solutions to real-world problems.

Learning to take failure in stride - In experimentation, testing, evaluating and modifying are part of the process. Students learn how to make failure into a learning experience and not become discouraged or frustrated when something doesn’t go as planned.

Exposing students to new opportunities - Our hands on labs provide the opportunity to learn something new, whether it is an alternate way to approach learning or utilizing new hardware and software tools and resources to reach a solution.

Building critical thinking and problem-solving skills - The ability to think critically and effectively problem solve should be established at a young age and cultivated over time. These skills are fundamental to and enhanced by the learning experiences in hands on learning.

Developing a wide range of 21st century skills - 21st century skills go beyond critical thinking and problem solving skills. These important skills include flexibility, collaboration, adaptability, oral and written communication, information literacy, technology literacy, productivity, social skills, leadership, initiative and more. These in-demand skill sets help to develop youth for future success. 

Improved outcomes - We believe the hands on learning lab spaces have the following impacts on the students: Feeling of safety, community, and belonging; greater involvement with chosen interests; improvement in at least one digital media skill; improved academic, communication and writing skills and better understanding of opportunities after high school.

Graphic Design Lab

The lab consists of state of the art Mac workstations equipped with current versions of Adobe Creative Suite and other popular interactive media software.  Peripheral printers, scanners, digital drawing pads and vinyl cutters are also provided in the lab. Other high quality and large format printers are available to students to complete various graphic design and print shop projects.

3D Printing Lab

Students have access to manufacturing design, technology and engineering in our small-scale 3D Printing Lab where students can dream up, design and make items from practical to innovative using cutting-edge software and equipment. Students can design their ideas using CAD software and make it 3D Print Ready. We have 2 3D printers available to print student designs in common 3D file formats. Lab also is equipped with many materials including PLA Plastic, Nylon, Flexible Filament and high resolution Resin in the lab.

Fashion Lab

Our Fashion Lab gives students a place to experiment creatively and invent through the art and science of Fashion. The fashion lab has more than 15 sewing machines to handle everything from fine fabrics to leather and denim, and patterns to practice those sewing and design skills. The space empowers students to design, prototype, source, manufacture, photo documentation area, bring to market, and actually sell original apparel. From concept to finished garment the fashion lab will support student’s creation of their completed work.