Through the Dream Lab, students at Penfield’s four elementary schools are learning to solve problems, think creatively, and explore technology.

Now in its second year, Dream Lab courses help students build proficiency in computer science, engineering, and digital literacy, while honing skills in social and emotional learning and developing a growth mindset.

In the classroom, this means using teamwork to tackle problems, understanding what it means to be a responsible digital citizen, and of course, programming robots!

“Students have the chance to build with various materials, learn some computer programming, and use a variety of different robots and software,” said Molly Fuller, a Dream Lab teacher at Scribner Road Elementary.

Penfield kindergarteners began the year with Lego and Keva plank builds to practice perseverance and collaboration skills. They also programmed Blue Bots, which taught them how to design an algorithm (list of steps) while working on communication and collaboration skills.

First graders followed an algorithm to log-on to district laptops for the first time. They worked on communication skills with others by designing and building in collaboration with a partner. First graders also worked with Blue Bots, designing a program plan to successfully navigate the robot around different mats. 

In second grade Dream Lab classes, students used KEVA planks to communicate about themselves. They focused on what effective collaboration in school looks and sounds like, then put that learning to use to complete a series of building challenges with Lego and Keva, as well as programming challenges with Blue Bot robots. Second grade Dreamers also used Book Creator to communicate about their teamwork strengths. 

Third graders have learned about cybersecurity standards like passwords and public vs. private online spaces. They used a Dream Lab favorite, Zoo Builderz, to communicate about themselves to others. More recently, third grade students have explored how AI works. Classes learned about decision trees, how decision trees are used in machine learning, and explored how AI can be used in a Dance Party activity in code.org. 

In the fourth grade, students learned about networks and systems design standards, explored the use of Microsoft Teams for classroom assignments, and learned about creation in PowerPoint. They used Book Creator as a graphic design tool to create personal logos that represent their unique qualities. They also programmed Ozobots and explored the programming of Dash robots using block coding on a tablet and Bluetooth connection to the robots.

Students in the fifth grade have focused on what it means to be a good digital citizen, discussing netiquette and posting ideas and guidelines in shared spaces on Microsoft Teams. They also edited a video animation of digital citizenship rules. Programming is more advanced at this grade level, where students programmed Ozobot Evos with marker code, and also learned to program the robots using block code and Bluetooth.