On the Cutting Edge: Foxcroft’s New Innovation Lab
In the laboratory classrooms of the Science Wing in Schoolhouse, you can often find students mixing compounds and analyzing the reaction of substances. Since the start of this school year, there is even more bubbling up in the Science Wing — innovation. With the opening of the new makerspace, The Innovation Lab at Foxcroft School or “TIL@FXC,” students and faculty alike are brainstorming creative uses for the tools — and we are just getting started!
Under the supervision of Director of Educational Technology Alex Northrup, over 64 community members have been trained on the School’s new Epilog Helix laser cutter. Using Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Illustrator software, individuals have conceptualized designs that are brought to life on the machine, and walked out of the lab with small mementos in hand and big possibilities for future projects.
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Among the technologies available in The Innovation Lab, you’ll also find a Brother sewing machine (which can do computer-aided embroidery as well!), an HP DesignJet T520 poster printer, a Silhouette Cameo 3 vinyl cutter, and a Power Heat Press for making t-shirts. These latest additions complement existing resources and equipment, including the 3D printer and the engineering/carpentry shop. There is also a digital lab where Digital Arts Instructor Julie Fisher teaches her photography and design students to use a robust suite of software, including the Adobe Creative Cloud. The last area of The Innovation Lab to come online will be the Audio/Video Studio, where students will be able to record podcasts as well as create cinematic masterpieces.
In addition to using The Innovation Lab for class projects, Northrup is helping interested girls offer student-led training classes. Upcoming sessions will include introduction to virtual reality, building an arduino computer, embroidering, vinyl cutting and t-shirt making, and flying a drone. Some students have already begun to use this space for their own personal projects, such as fashion design or laser-cut art.
While students and faculty have been using The Innovation Lab since the start of the school year, the space will officially be opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 18. Collaborative discussions are underway to explore how this new space can be a resource for community and business organizations as well.
We are excited to share more about how TIL@FXC gets used throughout the year! Next time you’re on campus, be sure to stop by and check out the space. You may find some inspiration there yourself.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
