Bank Sponsors Indiana Middle School with a STEM Lab and Broadcast Studio

“We’re trying to teach kids to think creatively and problem-solve as well as using 21st-century skills.”

—Bill Welling, Chief Academic Officer, School City of Mishawaka

To support Welling’s goals, Teacher’s Credit Union (TCU), a regional credit union, is supporting the new SmartLab HQ at John Young Middle School in Mishawaka, IN.

The TCU Innovation Lab opened in August and boasts an impressive 4,500 square foot facility that can accommodate up to 72 middle school students at a time.

Each learner has access to programs and technologies related to circuitry, digital communications, robotics and control technology, scientific data and analysis, sustainability, and software engineering.

After learning about a technology, students begin a project and document the problems and triumphs they face during its progression. Finally, they present the completed project to fellow classmates. With SmartLab Learning, we celebrate both failures and successes equally.

In addition to the SmartLab HQ STEM center, the space includes an engaging SmartLab Studio so students can create videos and streaming broadcasts using the same technology and equipment that’s used in the industry.

The South Bend Tribune reports that students are excited about the new facility, so much so that they even came to school during summer break to try out the some of the new learning resources!