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Educator Delegation Visits SmartLab HQs

Written by Bill Laurienti

We were honored to host a delegation of educators from Guangzhou City, China. This delegation of teachers, principals, and superintendents, affiliated with Beijing Normal University, visited Colorado SmartLab HQs to learn about innovative approaches to STEM education in the United States.

The China delegation visited a number of schools throughout the Denver Metro area.

The tour featured meetings with the superintendents of Littleton and Denver school systems and Richard Crandall, Colorado Commissioner of Education. The delegation also enjoyed a Q&A session with STEM students at Cresthill Middle School where both students and delegates had the opportunity to compare and contrast educational systems in the two countries.

Delegation members frequently remarked on the level of the students’ engagement in the SmartLab HQ. They were impressed by the use of applied technology for project work, the degree of choice and personalization of learning, and authentic assessment through portfolios.

Common observations were that, though there is no equivalent program in China, Chinese students would benefit greatly from similar opportunities.

Bill.Laurienti
Bill Laurienti
Content Marketing Manager

Bill Laurienti is the content marketing manager at Creative Learning Systems. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (English) from Colorado Mesa University and a Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching from the University of California's Rossier School of Education. Bill came to CLS after 10 years in the secondary classroom. He believes SmartLabs are important tools for engaging unengaged students and helping them access careers they might not otherwise have imagined.

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