Welcome to our Middle School Genius Project Beta Lab!

Beta testing is the final round of testing before a product is finally released to a wider audience. It is a key piece of the design process when users can try the product under normal conditions, providing valuable feedback and insight to the design and production teams. Products are almost, but not quite finished in beta testing, and there is still room for growth before full scale production occurs. Our middle school students compile their understandings and developing skills through inquiry-led learning in the MS STEM Center and through our Genius Project program. These projects are student-directed with teacher support.

EXPERIENCE LEARNING brings STEM concepts and perspectives to life.

With the transition to remote learning in mid-March, our Genius Project program adapted to focus on students and families celebrating the many ways we learn everyday. Instead of a scaffolded in-school project for fourth and fifth grade students, elementary school families were encouraged to create visual presentations celebrating their interests and the unique ways families work and learn together.

Middle School students started the year thinking about what they would learn if they could choose how to spend their time in school. They were encouraged to pursue project ideas and write research questions that reflect their interests and the ways they would choose to spend their days if they could choose to do anything they wanted to during the school day. This year-long independent inquiry project was intended to bridge coursework and apply learning to topics of their own choice. When we transitioned to remote learning, the original challenge became extremely relevant.

The assignment was to find something you want to know, do or create. Learn about it. Do it. Design and build it....and then share what you learned. The following are beta samples of what students learned when they followed their interests and directed their learning.