About the Bus

Why a mobile STEAM Lab?

Ernie's Mobile STEAM Lab is the result of an idea I had in 2017 to address the needs of the students in our school district. Kids like to tinker and incredible things can come from tinkering. Our students need time and space to let their minds create and critically think and their voices collaborate and communicate. Ernie's Mobile STEAM Lab was my Google Innovator project. Through a collaboration with several departments in the system, the bus is used for students to dig deeper into STEAM and teachers to use it as a resource for classroom learning and professional development.

The bus is named after my mother, Ernestine Fagin, a former paraprofessional at Orrs Elementary School. She loved working with the students at her school and was heavily involved in youth serving organizations all her adult life.  The bus is a tribute to her memory and will serve as a lasting legacy to the work she began here in the Griffin Spalding County School System. 

Whats on the bus?

• Augmented and virtual reality - students will have the opportunity to view a variety of things and places using augmented and virtual reality. Items will be viewed in three dimensions. 

• A drone - the drone is equipped with a camera and will be used to take aerial photographs of our community so that our students can see this community and various resources from a different perspective. 

• Dell Chromebooks - students will use the Chromebooks for coding, Google Hangouts, design projects, and accessing G Suite for Education apps 

• A Dell laptop - the laptop is connected to the 3D printer and television. 

• Dremel 3D printer - project ideas are limitless with the 3D printer. 

• Podcasting - #StudentVoice will be a reality when students create their own podcasts. They will work collaboratively to articulate their views, share project ideas, and debate real life scenarios that will then be shared for others to hear.

• MakerSpace - students will be able to create almost anything they can imagine. 

• Bloxels - students can create their own video games using Bloxels. They will learn coding while creating. 

• Arduino coding kits - allow students to learn how to create an input and turn it into an output using a micro controller. 

• 65 inch flat screen TV

• Wireless internet - our connection to the entire world!

• Garmin VIRB 360 camera - a camera that captures an entire sphere of photos, videos, and even audio recordings.

• BreakoutEDU kits - games that bring the escape room right to the classroom. Students will work together to solve the challenge or create their own breakout. 

• Lego MINDSTORM kits - robotics kits for middle and high school students

• Lego Early Simple Machine kits - teaches the basics of coding to elementary students

• Lego Education WeDo 2.0 kits - robotics for elementary students

• Coding Express by Lego Education - a creative solution that introduces Kindergarteners to early coding skills and concepts in a fun and engaging way 

• Lego Education SPIKE Essential Set - the elementary school solution to build students' confidence and introduce 21st century STEM skills 

• Lego Education SPIKE Prime Set - the middle school solution to build students' confidence and introduce 21st century STEM skills

• Makey Makey - invention kits that turn ordinary objects into learning experiences using computers and coding. 

• Wonder Workshop Dash Robot Wonder Pack

• Vex Robotics - Beyond science and engineering principles, VEX encourages creativity, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving among groups. It allows educators of all types to engage and inspire the STEM problem solvers of tomorrow!  Kits are available for elementary, middle, and high school students.